Springbok flank Hendrik Gerber has made a swift recovery from what was initially feared a neck injury and was on Thursday reinstated to the Stormers side for Saturday's Super 12 fixture against the Cats at Newlands.

As a result of his return, veteran flanker Rob Brink will return to the substitutes' bench, while the experienced John Slade will be rested.

Stormers coach Alan Solomons on Thursday said Gerber was in the team originally selected, but after he sustained the injury on Tuesday, Brink was drafted in.

Gerber sustained the injury when the team played a warm-up game against Western Province a week ago. He experienced similar symptoms at practice this week and the team's medical staff recommended that he was not selected for this game until thorough medical examinations were performed.

After special investigations, including an MRI scan, specialist referrals and a fitness test by the Stormers medical team, he was declared fit to play in Saturday's game.

Solomons said the tests showed there was no neck involvement and therefore it was simply a matter of reintroducing Gerber to the team.

Meanwhile, Springbok prop Lawrence Sephaka will only join the Stormers on Sunday in Johannesburg for their overseas leg of their Super 12 campaign. The prop was surplus to the Cats requirements and subsequently drafted by the Stormers.

Solomons said it would take a while for him to make an assessment of Sephaka's abilities. "I haven't met Lawrence yet, but the guys told me he is a hell of a nice bloke.

"He hasn't played Super 12 yet, so I must be honest when I say I don't know much about him. All I know is he did bloody well when he went on against Argentina A on tour last year for the Springboks."

"He has a lot of potential, but limited experience. We will be trying to bring him up to speed with our playing strategy first of all, with the moves and calls. We will also assess his fitness once we arrive overseas and hopefully thereafter get him involved."