Lavea gets through fitness test

Five-eighths Tasesa Lavea has been named to lead the Blues backline against the Stormers, but there must still be doubts whether he will start the match.

Lavea convinced the medical staff he had recovered from his rib injury during several light training runs.

It was a remarkable rally from Lavea - who was in serious pain after the last game against the Sharks - which allowed coach Peter Sloane to pick an unchanged backline for Sunday's game in Cape Town.

Should Lavea suffer a recurrence in training, Luke McAlister would move into his place, with Rua Tipoki likely to be used at second five-eighths.

There was one change in the pack - utility Angus Macdonald was picked at lock, instead of Chresten Davis, after leg problems kept him out of the last few matches.

The squad's other lock on tour, Greg Rawlinson, has resumed training, but his patella tendon knee injury has not repaired enough to allow him to challenge for selection for this match.

Sloane has also resisted the opportunity to use All Black Saimone Taumoepeau at loosehead prop to give Tony Woodcock some respite from a troublesome wrist injury.

The Stormers have dropped test centre Marius Joubert, bringing Jean de Villiers in from the wing and leaving room for speedster Tonderai Chavhanga.

Chavhanga was a menace to the Blues last year when the Stormers won 51-23 at Eden Park.

The locals have also been able to include Joe van Niekerk at No 8 after he overcame the latest in his long run of injuries.

However, test flanker Schalk Burger failed a fitness test on his damaged calf.