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Province welcome back big guns

WP will travel to Loftus to face the Blue Bulls in the first Currie Cup semi-final.

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Flank Rynhardt Elstadt, scrumhalf Jano Vermaak, centre Johnny Kotze, wing Seabelo Senatla and fullback Cheslin Kolbe are all back in the selection mix after missing the 45-14 win over the Eastern Province Kings.

Elstadt has recovered from a thigh injury that has kept him on the sidelines for a number of weeks while Vermaak (groin), Kotze (hamstring), Senatla (rest) and Kolbe (ankle bone bruising) are all fit enough to play a role in the encounter.

Prop Oli Kebble, who limped off the field against the Kings with an ankle injury, took part in training on Monday and looks set to be available for selection.

Hooker Siyabonga Ntubeni and flank Chris Cloete (both calf muscles) remain on the injury list and, at this moment, remain unavailable for selection.

"To have him [Rynhardt Elstadt] back is really big for us – what he's done in the past, especially from a physical point of view, is huge.

"Also, we have a young team – the youngest in the competition – so having him back, and also Juan de Jongh, who has not played against the Bulls this year, is a big boost in terms of our experience. Rynhardt has a massive engine, so I am not worried about a guy like him, but if the Currie Cup means anything to us we need to punch through those notoriously tough first twenty minutes [on the Highveld]," Dobson said.

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Captain Juan de Jongh, who only recently returned to action following a knee injury is happy with the progress he has made and the amount of time he has hard on the park.

"It's important for me to be at 100 percent, it's no good for the team if I am not. But I feel good, I've had 80 to 90 minutes now and I feel sharp, which is what's needed in my new position [at No.12].

"It's a different position [from No.13] and it's important for me to direct the play from the No.12 channel and it's something I'm enjoying," de Jongh stated.

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