Bob Skinstad is back for the Stormers and says he is ready for whatever the Cats may throw at him in Saturday's Super 12 game at Newlands.

The Springbok, back after a long layoff due to a serious knee injury, could hardly contain his excitement on Wednesday. "Yes, I'm very worked up for this game. It's obviously difficult to quantify, because I have been out of the game for a while," Skinstad said.

"But I cannot wait to get on to the park. Unfortunately, I missed out on the last three Cats games, so I'd like to play against them. Each time I've been out through injury, so not only for the side, but also for myself, there is something to prove," he added.

He was happy with his performances in the Stormers' three warm-up games. "It was always going to be gradual and I think in the Western Province game there were some good bits. There are, however, still some bits that I'd like to work on more.

"My defence thus far has been very good and I'm very chuffed with that. The attacking stuff I feel is flair based and it will come with the ball in hand."

The 24-year-old showed some glimpses of the brilliant attacking flair against WP and he said he hopes to show off more of that against the Cats. "That's the goal, but I don't know how the game will pan out.

"Unfortunately, traditionally when two South African teams meet it's always been a little bit harder and more physical and slow. If I can do that, then I think it will help the game, certainly from our point of view, because then our backline can run a little bit."

Skinstad is at his best in a fast-paced game and when the gaps open up he is lethal. That's why he wants the pace on Saturday to be fast and furious. "The quicker it is, the more people fall by the wayside and hopefully I can be up there with a very fast pace. Our backline is so fast at the moment, a quicker pace will help them."

He reckons the hard work he put during his rehabilitation period has paid off. "I've been doing a lot of speed work in my off time and I'm very pleased. My times over 50 and 60m are quicker now. It's just the short burst that I'm working on at the moment, not that it's slower now, but that's what I need to improve on if I want to be a world-class forward."

And his knee has stood up well to the rigours of contact. He doesn't have a problem when he steps off any foot either. "That's the thing I started working on first, because I didn't want to be the kind of player who couldn't do what I've been doing before the injury. Now I just need game time ... I can't wait to get on the park."

The Cats play the game physical and the Stormers expect Skinstad to be singled out for special treatment - a kind of special welcome back. Skinstad doesn't mind, as long as it's in his interest he'll take the punishment.

"I hope they will single me out for special attention, because the more they target me the less they'll think about the other players. I think we've got 14 other brilliant players in the team, so everyone will pull their weight and do their thing."