Jonah Lomu and Filo Tiatia need only to survive Wednesday's training run to start for the Hurricanes in Saturday's Super 12 match with the Bulls.

Both big men came through Tuesday's two sessions with flying colours - Lomu's calf strain and Tiatia's Achilles tendon strain both coping with a hot day's work to bring a smile to coach Graham Mourie's anxious face.

But the rest of the day wasn't great. Flanker Kupu Vanisi walked with the greatest difficulty after the stomp he received on the knee in the 27-18 loss to the Reds in Brisbane, while the standard of the afternoon training run was well below par.

There was a lack of urgency and enthusiasm and Mourie was moved to deliver a short, sharp sermon to his scrummaging forwards at one stage. "They had a fitness test in the morning which lasted almost three hours, but that's no excuse," Mourie said.

He was happy with the improvement shown by Tiatia and Lomu. "They look good. We'll see how they come through the full-on training (Wednesday). If they pass that they would have to start, because if you sub someone on and they get injured, you can't replace them."

Mourie said the other obvious problem in bringing Lomu back - his lack of familiarity with the team's moves simply because he hasn't had a run with it until Tuesday - could only be cured by playing. "He's got to get on there some time," Mourie said.

Hurricanes (likely): Christian Cullen, Jonah Lomu, Tana Umaga, Brad Fleming, Jason O'Halloran, David Holwell, Jason Spice, Filo Tiatia, Campbell Feather, Dion Waller, Inoke Afeaki, Jerry Collins, Kevin Yates, Norm Hewitt, Gordon Slater (capt).

Bulls: Casper Steyn, Wynand Lourens, Adrian Jacobs, Danie van Schalkwyk, Friedrich Lombard, Franco Smith, Joost van der Westhuizen, Anton Leonard, Pierre Uys, Nicky van der Walt, Victor Manfield, Braam Els, Johan Human, Naka Drotske, Frikkie Bosman. Substitutes: Jannie Brooks, Gunder Williamson, Ralf Schroeder, Johan Wasserman, Marius Goosen, McNeil Hendricks, Hakkies Hussleman. - Sapa