The Cheetahs have selected a strong squad that gives some hints as to Erasmus's plans for the season.

Tellingly, the 26-man squad has excluded wing Giscard Pieters who has been released for Vodacom Cup duty, and young flanker Duane Vermaak stakes a claim in the squad ahead of other loose forwards Jonathan Mokuena, Bian Vermaak, Heinrich Brussouw, Ashley Johnson and Gareth Krause.

Hooker Jaco du Toit, prop Kobus Calldo, lock Flip van der Merwe, Vermaak, Johnson, Brussouw and centre JW Jonker have all also been released to play Vodacom Cup rugby.

The squad does not include the injured Os du Randt, Bevin Fortuin and Barry Goodes.

The Cheetahs smashed Samoa 74-19, as well as the Central Unions XV 54-12, so Wednesday's game will be a good indicator as to the true potency of this much-touted outfit.

Much has been expected from the Cheetahs and the Sharks in a pre-season in which many have predicted the South African sides to come out in full force in 2007.

Wednesday's outing will hopefully see both sides demonstrate a preparedness and a fluidity that will see them deliver on the pre-season promises.

In recent years, the Cheetahs have had the upper hand on their Durban rivals, and that history will no doubt mean that the Bloemfontein-based side will face a Sharks side hungry to turn that record around.

This is the Sharks' one and only pre-season outing, following a a recent internal trial.

Cheetahs squad: Wian du Preez, Ollie le Roux, Richardt Strauss, Adriaan Strauss, Jannie du Plessis, CJ van der Linde, Rory Duncan, Corniel v Zyl, Ryno van der Merwe, Duane Vermeulen, Darron Nel, Barend Pieterse, Hendro Scholtz, Juan Smith, Kabamba Floors, Noel Oelschig, Mike Claassens, Willem de Waal, Herkie Kruger, Rayno Benjamin, Meyer Bosman, Ronnie Cooke, Hendrik Meyer, Marius Joubert, Eddie Fredericks, Tiger Mangweni, Phillip Burger 

Date: 24 January 2006
Venue: The ABSA Stadium, Durban
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)
Referee: Marius Jonker (SARU)
Assessor: Theuns Naudé