Durban - The Sharks were handed a major double boost on Sunday after backline pair Patrick Lambie and Paul Jordaan both made sufficient progress in their recovery and were named in a 24-man squad for the Super Rugby final.
The Durban franchise will face the Chiefs in the final in Hamilton on Saturday.
Springbok back Lambie and junior Bok centre Jordaan missed the 26-19 semifinal win over the Stormers in Cape Town at the weekend after failing late fitness tests.
Lambie was also absent from their playoff victory over the Reds in Brisbane the week before when he failed to make the trip to Australia after aggravating an ankle injury against the Cheetahs in the final match of the conference stage.
Jordaan played against the Queenslanders, but hobbled off with a hamstring problem.
Their availability will be a massive boost for coach John Plumtree, who reported no fresh injury concerns following their battling victory at Newlands.
The squad, made up of 11 backline and 13 forward players, will spend a few days in Sydney, before continuing on their journey to Hamilton on Thursday.
“There were a lot of really tired bodies in there, but this group has gathered belief in the last seven or eight weeks and we’re just following through right now, which is great,” Plumtree said.
Sharks (touring squad): Meyer Bosman, Paul Jordaan, Patrick Lambie, Charl McLeod, Frederic Michalak, Lwazi Mvovo, JP Pietersen, Louis Ludik, Odwa Ndungane, Riaan Viljoen, Tim Whitehead, Willem Alberts, Anton Bresler, Jacques Botes, Craig Burden, Jean Deysel, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Marcell Coetzee, Keegan Daniel (captain), Wiehahn Herbst, Ryan Kankowski, Tendai Mtawarira and Steven Sykes. - Sapa