The Free State Cheetahs will be looking to play two of their most influential trump cards in the race for the Currie Cup play-offs when they take on the Blue Bulls at Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské will be strongly considering including flyhalf Chris Rossouw and speedy Springbok wing Jongi Nokwe in his match 22 for the Bulls encounter.

Both players have recovered from injury, and were in the thick of the action during the Cheetahs team practice on Monday.

Their recovery could not have come at a better time for coach Drotské, who has lost the services of scrumhalf Neil Powell for the rest of the season after the player suffered a broken arm against the Sharks.

The nimble Jandré Blom practiced with the Cheetahs on Monday, and he will most likely fight it out with Tewis de Bruyn for the number nine jersey.

The Cheetahs have also been short of personnel on the wing recently after the injury curse extended to Fabian Juries and Wilton Pietersen, which forced Drotské to employ Kabamba Floors on the wing in the loss to the Sharks.

Nokwe's return will be a ready-made fix for that problem.

As a bonus, in-form centre sensation Robert Ebersohn has shown that he is made of stern stuff — the youngster has recovered from a knee complaint to confirm his availability for the Cheetahs cause.

The Cheetahs will be facing their last round-robin match against a 'big five' union this weekend as the Currie Cup play-off race enters the home strait, and will be desperate to grab at least one log point against the rampant Bulls.

Any log points the Cheetahs earn against the Bulls will act as an 'insurance policy' against Western Province overtaking them on the points table.

WP are currently five points behind the Cheetahs, in fifth position on the log.

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