Exciting flyhalf prospect Herkie Kruger's unexpected rise to top level rugby continued on Monday when he was included in the Sharks 22-man squad for Friday night's Super 12 opener against the Bulls in Durban.

The Natal under-21 flyhalf of last season rose to prominence with a good performance against the Cats in a warm-up game two weeks ago and on Monday he was rewarded with a call-up to the squad.

Springbok utility back Gaffie du Toit hasn't seen any action thus far due to a hamstring injury and he was not considered for selection. Du Toit will, however, play in the curtain-raiser for the Natal Wildebeest.

Coach Rudolf Straeuli on Monday said he hopes Du Toit comes through the game unscathed so that he could be considered for the Sharks' next game. "Gaffie had trouble with his hamstring and we will give him 20 minutes in the curtain-raiser for the Wildebeest.

"He hasn't had contact yet this season and it would have been madness to put him straight back into action in a Super 12 game. Hopefully he comes through that game and we will have him available for our next game," the coach said.

Straeuli hinted that Butch James would start at flyhalf, with Kruger on the substitutes' bench. However, he has faith in the youngster's abilities if he has to take the field. "He did well in the game against the Cats and he's been with us for three years now.

"I've got a good idea what he's capable of, but we don't want to put too much pressure on him at this stage. The fact that he's in the squad now doesn't mean he will play Super 12 the whole season."

Straeuli will only announce his starting line-up later this week, but said they don't have a lot of secrets at the Sharks. "All the guys are fit and ready, so it's not that difficult to select the starting line-up."

Springbok lock Philip Smit is back in the squad after missing most of the 2000 season through injury, as is Justin Swart, who couldn't make the team last year due to a loss of form. His stint in New Zealand's Provincial Competition for Otago has apparently done wonders for the former Bok flyers' confidence.

"Philip had a foot injury last year and had to undergo surgery, but he is 100 per cent fit again. He could play flank as well, but I will consider him exclusively at lock," Straeuli commented on the former Griquas star's inclusion.

He is happy with the form Swart has displayed in the warm-up games. "He has done well in the positions we want to use him this season - at fullback or left wing."

Former Griffons hooker Lukas van Biljon has also been included and there is a strong possibility that he will make his Super 12 debut on Friday.

The coach is not concerned about the centre position - according to certain pundits the Sharks' Achilles heel. Trevor Halstead and Springbok Deon Kayser look like the possible midfield combination, but an interesting choice is that of Western Province wing/centre Gus Theron, who has been drafted to the Sharks.

"I think we have enough depth at centre - people are unnecessarily worried about that. Andre Snyman will play in the curtain-raiser on Friday too and he is slowly but surely finding his feet again."

Straeuli expects a tough game. "The Bulls are going to be tough opposition and we cannot expect an easy encounter. We have the team to play any type of rugby and we'll see what happens on the night.

"We can play a kicking or a running game, but we are not too worried about what they say about how we're going to play. They will come with a heavily physical onslaught, but that's what we expect," Straeuli said.

Sharks squad: Mark Andrews, Warren Britz, Warren Brosnihan, Craig Davidson, Etienne Fynn, Trevor Halstead, Buch James, Deon Kayser, Herkie Kruger, Ollie le Roux, Ricardo Loubscher, Hentie Martens, Brent Moyle, John Smit, Justin Swart, Stefan Terblanche, Gus Theron, Luks van Biljon, Albert van den Berg, AJ Venter, Charl van Rensburg.