The Toyota Cheetahs will be back in action this weekend when they face Zebre in Parma in the opening round of the EPCR Challenge Cup.

The Cheetahs will jet off to Italy tomorrow afternoon and they will have limited preparation ahead of their outing against the United Rugby Championship team.

Zebre themselves are heading back to Italy following two weeks in South Africa where they lost to the Lions and Stormers in the URC.

The majority of the teams has previously played in Parma, apart from one or two of the newer players.

The Cheetahs coach, Hawies Fourie, told OFM Sport that it helps having a team with previous experience in Parma.

“It helps a lot to have an idea of the conditions we are going to face,” said Fourie.

“We stayed in Parma for quite a while last year as we were based there with it being our home ground. We are all used to the hotel, the field, the training facilities and the weather.

“I showed the squad the weather forecast for Friday and Saturday so that they know what to expect.”

Saturday's match between Zebre and the Cheetahs in Parma kicks off at 15:00.

Cheetahs touring squad:

Forwards - Rynier Bernardo, Schalk Ferreira, Justin Forwood, Marko Janse van Rensburg, Daniel Maartens, Friedle Olivier, Sibabalo Qoma, Jeandré Rudolph, Victor Sekekete (captain), Alulutho Tshakweni, Hencus van Wyk, Gideon van der Merwe, Marnus van der Merwe, Chucky van der Westhuizen, Laurence Victor, Carl Wegner

Backs - Evardi Boshoff, Reinhardt Fortuin, Cohen Jasper, Daniel Kasende, Rewan Kruger, George Lourens, Tapiwa Mafura, Ali Mgijima, Ruan Pienaar

Morgan Piek OFM Sport