The match will be the Currie Cup champions' first of their new season and the encounter will be the start of their build-up to their second campaign in the European Challenge Cup.

The Force arrived in South Africa on Sunday already, but will only be heading to the City of Roses on Wednesday.

It is unclear what coach Hawies Fourie’s plans are with his match 23, and with numerous players having left for other teams a couple of interesting selections are expected.

On Monday, only the forwards had a training session as the backline players were in Johannesburg in order to sort out their visas for the upcoming trip to Australia for the return leg of the Toyota Challenge which will be played in Perth.

The Cheetahs have been in preseason for the past month and a lot of the focus has been on gym work as they prepare to face the Australian Super Rugby franchise. It’s only in the last week or so that more focus has been placed on game situations etc.

There is a certain excitement in the Cheetahs camp as it will be the first time that these two teams get to face each other since both were booted out of the Super Rugby back in 2017.

The Cheetahs captain, Victor Sekekete, who became a dad last week, told OFM Sport that they look forward to getting back to business.

“Looking back at winning the Currie Cup, it was a successful season, but we have to rectify where we see that we can do better,” said the Currie Cup-winning captain.

“This preseason has really helped us with that, and then also giving us the confidence to go into the EPCR.

“Having the opportunity to play in a different form of the Toyota Challenge by playing against the Western Force, is good, especially with both teams not having faced each other in such a long time.”

The last time the Cheetahs and Force played against each other was on 2 July 2016, with the Free State winning that game in Bloemfontein 30-29.

Friday’s game between the Cheetahs and Force at the Toyota Stadium kicks off at 17:00.

Cheetahs – TBA

Western Force touring squad - Albert Alcock, Max Burey, Regi Churchward, Lopeti Faifua, Donny Freeman, Jack Grooby, Ford Hemi, Tom Horton, Fa'amanu Kalolo, Bayley Kuenzle, Justin Landman, Ronan Leahy, Giovanni Leituala, Reesjan Pasitoa, Marley Pearce, George Poolman, Harry Potter, Ian Prior, Jackson Pugh, Henry Robertson, Sam Spink, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Josh Thompson, Carlo Tizzano, Angus Wagner, Jeremy Williams, three more to be confirmed

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport