Sharks coach Rudolf Straeuli says his team still has time to shake of the rustiness of the off-season before meeting the Stormers in the Super 12 opener at the ABSA Stadium in Durban on February 22.

The Sharks play a warm-up match against the Cats in Johannesburg on Friday before departing for London, where they will meet English Premiership club Harlequins on Tuesday.

They struggled to overcome the fifth South African Super 12 side, the Renegades, in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday, but Straeuli is not disheartened by that performance. "I think it was a good exercise for us, we could measure our depth," he said.

"It was a typical pre-season game. I remember when the Springboks prepared for the 1995 World Cup, we almost lost against Western Province and Natal. But in our first game we beat Australia. I think we have some good talent at our disposal; it's just a matter of selecting the right combinations.

"What makes it even nicer is that the Renegades and the other teams won't stand back for the Super 12 sides. They want to show they are good players and that shows South African rugby has good depth."

Straeuli is in no rush to use his Springboks and other big name players, instead opting to manage them carefully before and during the demanding Super 12.

"Guys like Mark (Andrews) didn't play because I felt the players who went on the Springboks' end-of-year tour deserved another week away from the field. I want to phase them in slowly into contact situations. Against the Cats we will move closer to our Super 12 side.

"Deon Kayser, Herkie Kruger and Trevor Halstead are not yet ready after injuries and I will only bring them in from next week onwards. I want to see them and Craig Davidson play in a local game first before I will select them for the Sharks."

Straeuli said he wants to have another look at some of the new guys in his squad before making a final judgment on their ability to produce the goods in the tough Super 12 series. "I want to have another look on Friday at guys like Clyde Rathbone and BJ Botha before I can comment on their ability to make it at this level.

"Ricardo Loubscher (fullback from the Eastern Province) played very well, while Thinus Delport (new recruit from the Cats) looked a bit rusty. Some of those players haven't played for quite a while, so what they need now is matches to find their form again."

According to the wily coach he will mix and match his team against the Cats. "It's still early days and you cannot show your cards too early. The players are also looking at the coach to see whom he is going to select.

"I think everyone should get a fair chance and a coach shouldn't be prejudiced. You should use these warm-up games to assess the players' form and you should select the form players."

Straeuli doesn't think the whirlwind visit to London will disrupt his team's preparations. "No, we're gone for only five days. That's why we preferred to play against the Renegades earlier. We are back on Thursday and we have two full weeks before we start our Super 12 campaign against the Stormers. That's adequate for me.

"The trip to London is not a long one and there is no big time difference. I am going to get fresh ideas from the Northern Hemisphere and learn from them. I don't think it could be to our disadvantage and hopefully we won't sustain any injuries."