The Bulls could not have received a more timely boost as they prepare for the Super 15 kick-off this weekend than the return of star halfback Fourie du Preez.

The Pretoria-based franchise are chasing a Super hat-trick after winning the last two editions of the 14-team version.

The Bulls used home advantage to humiliate New Zealand visitors the Chiefs in the 2009 decider and got the better of compatriots the Stormers in Soweto last year.

Wing Francois Hougaard stood in for Du Preez at provincial and national team level and he has no doubt the player rated the best No.9 in the world will leave his mark.

"Having Fourie back is going to help us improve on last season. His presence will be a big positive and our ambition is to do the things we do well even better this time round," he said.

Bjorn Basson, the former Cheetahs wing who broke a 21-year Currie Cup record of Carel du Plessis last season with 21 tries, has become a Bull although there is no guarantee of a starting place.

With Du Preez back at the base of the scrum to direct operations with his lethal cocktail of passing and field kicking, Hougaard may return to the left wing and Gerhard van den Heever is a likely choice on the other side.

Basson is probably relieved just to be in contention as he and Bulls reserve hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle were cleared of doping charges last month.

The Bulls pack is a match for any rival with the star cast including prop Gurthro Steenkamp, hooker Gary Botha, locks Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha.

Du Preez partners Morne Steyn in the halves and while the backline appears strong, a lack of reserve depth may concern head coach Frans Ludeke.

The Stormers suffered a cruel pre-season blow when experienced hooker Tiaan Liebenberg suffered a knee injury during a warm-up victory that is likely to sideline him for the entire tournament.

Deon Fourie should take over as hooker for the Cape Town-based team, but should anything happen to him, coach Allister Coetzee has only rookie Siyabonga Ntubeni in reserve.

The third South African outfit capable of fighting for the championship are the Sharks, who defeated the Bulls and Stormers last year to lift the domestic Currie Cup provincial crown.

New Zealand-born coach John Plumtree has the pleasant task of choosing his front row from four current Springboks -- captain John Smit and fellow hooker Bismarck du Plessis plus props Tendai 'Beast' Mtawarira and Jannie du Plessis.

Up is surely the only way to go for the Lions under former All Blacks coach John Mitchell after the Johannesburg side lost all 13 matches last year -- some by embarrassing margins.

Young five-eighth Elton Jantjies has the flair and place-kicking skills to offer hope of a brighter future and squad additions include winger Lionel Mapoe from the Cheetahs and livewire hooker Bandise Maku from the Bulls.

Coach Naka Drotske believes the days of Cheetahs being the whipping boys among the South African quintet are set to end with the imminent return from injury of Springboks flanker Heinrich Brussow a huge boost.

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