The outside back, Craig Barry, is on standby to join the Toyota Cheetahs in Wales for the two remaining of their Guinness PRO14 tour.

Barry, who linked up with the Cheetahs after the Currie Cup, was not named in the initial touring squad, however, he may just find himself boarding a flight to the UK.

This comes after the centre, Dries Swanepoel, was red-carded during their heartbreaking 24-22 defeat to Connacht in Galway on Saturday.

In the 70th minute of the encounter at the Sportsground, Swanepoel, received his marching orders after clearing out the replacement scrumhalf, Caolin Blade, at a breakdown.

Swanepoel's shoulder made contact with the head and neck region of the Connacht player, and with a reasonable amount of force.

While there have been a lot worse incidents in the PRO14, Swanepoel can expect to receive a ban and going by the Cheetahs' track record in disciplinary hearings, they can expect the player to be on the sidelines for a lengthy spell.

The PRO14 is yet to confirm that Swanepoel will be cited, but it is a given that it will come.

The Cheetahs coach, Hawies Fourie, confirmed to OFM Sport that they will review the incident and decide whether or not they will try and reduce it down to a yellow card.

The coach added that Barry will link up with them should Swanepoel receive a ban.

“We will have a look at the footage again and see if we really feel that it was a red card or not. If it is not and we feel that it should only have been a yellow card then we will appeal and see what happens.

“If he has to go back then Craig Barry will come and join us, but we will make that decision on Monday.”

This could mean that William Small-Smith will be moved to centre, and it remains to be seen if Barry will march into the starting XV. The most likely scenario will be that Clayton Blommetjies retains his starting role with Barry playing off the bench.

Meanwhile, the tighthead prop, Erich de Jager, will be linking up with the Cheetahs for the remainder of the tour as a replacement for the Springbok, Ox Nche, who played his last game for the team. Nche heads back to South Africa where we will join the Sharks.

The Cheetahs will face Scarlets in Llanelli on Saturday with kick-off at Parc y Scarlets at 17:00.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport