Zeilinga has recovered from his hip injury he sustained during the team’s final round Super Rugby match against the Southern Kings earlier in the year.

The current backline general, Ernst Stapelberg, will be heading overseas for the first time as well, as he missed the opening matches against Ulster and Munster, following surgery to treat appendicitis.

Robbie Petzer was the man who stood in at the Kingspan Stadium and Thomond Park.

Oupa Mohoje, also travels and so to the exciting centre, Nico Lee.

Francois Venter returns from his niggle and will lead the side.

Sergeal Petersen and Raymond Rhule will both make their last appearance for the Cheetahs against Zebre, before linking up with the Stormers next week.

Petersen told OFM Sport that it has been a blessing to play at the Cheetahs for the past few seasons.

“The platform the Free State has set for me has really been a blessing and it’s been an amazing experience being here.

“Coming to the Free State from Port Elizabeth was a big adaption, but I’m just happy for the opportunity I got here at the Cheetahs.

The former South African schools long-jumper added that he and his housemate, Rhule, want to go out with a bang.

“We said our goodbyes two weeks ago against the Glasgow Warriors, so all the admin is done, if you want to call it that.

“Now we’re just focusing on the game at hand.

“Hopefully we can just go out with a bang a deliver a performance like we haven’t before.”

The Springbok flank, Uzair Cassiem, will be ready to take to the field again after picking up a rib injury against the Wallabies in Bloemfontein last month. He doesn’t travel, but is expected to be re-called to the national side for their end-of-year-tour to Europe.

Meanwhile, the flyhalf, Niel Marais, indicated that he will be ready towards and end of November and should be fit to play against Edinburgh and the defending champions, Scarlets, in Bloemfontein. Initially it was expected that he would only be fit again in January.

The Cheetahs depart for Italy via Germany on Tuesday.

Zebre host the Cheetahs on Saturday evening in Parma with kick-off at Stadio Lanfranchi at 18:00.

Toyota Cheetahs touring squad - Charles Marais, Ox Nche, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Jacques du Toit, Joseph Dweba, Aranos Coetzee, Tom Botha, Luan de Bruin, Justin Basson, Reniel Hugo, Rynier Bernardo, Tier Schoeman, Henco Venter, Junior Pokomela, Oupa Mohoje, Tian Meyer, Shaun Venter, Ernst Stapelberg, Fred Zeilinga, Makazole Mapimpi, William Small-Smith, Francois Venter, Nico Lee, Raymond Rhule, Sergeal Petersen, Luther Obi, Ali Mgijima. 

Morgan Piek OFM Sport