Loose forward Siya Kolisi was announced as the captain of the Stormers for their 2018 Super Rugby campaign as coach Robbie Fleck named a 47-man squad for the new season.
Kolisi held the reins last season, but was overlooked for the Springbok armband when his Stormers teammate Eben Etzebeth was given that honour by then-coach Allister Coetzee.
Lock Etzebeth will be Kolisi's vice-captain during this campaign, though he is only expected to return to the field of play in April at the earliest.
Etzebeth is one of a number of injury worries for Fleck ahead of the campaign, with fullback SP Marais (toe), hooker Scarra Ntubeni (hamstring), props Ali Vermaak (hamstring) and Frans Malherbe (neck), scrumhalf Jano Vermaak (knee), flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis (groin), centre Dan du Plessis (shoulder) and loose-forward Juarno Augustus (back) all set to miss the start of the campaign.
Despite the set-backs, Fleck has praised the team's preparations and says they will be ready for the opening match at Newlands against the Jaguares of Argentina on February 17.
"It has been a good pre-season, which has seen us implement a number of new ideas, so the players are keen to make all the hard work count out on the pitch," he said in a media release from the Stormers.
"We are all looking forward to our opening game against the Jaguares, which gives us a chance to play in front of our loyal fans at Newlands before we go on tour," he said.
Squad:
Juarno Augustus, Craig Barry, Nizaam Carr, Jaco Coetzee, Damian de Allende, Jan de Klerk, Paul de Wet, Stephan de Wit, Dan du Plessis, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Johan du Toit, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Dewaldt Duvenage, JJ Engelbrecht, Eben Etzebeth, Neethling Fouche, JC Janse van Rensberg, Steven Kitshoff, Siya Kolisi (captain), Dan Kriel, Dillyn Leyds, Wilco Louw, Frans Malherbe, SP Marais, Bongi Mbonambi, Salmaan Moerat, Dean Muir, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Scarra Ntubeni, Caylib Oosthuizen, Sergeal Petersen, Justin Phillips, Raymond Rhule, Carlu Sadie, Ramone Samuels, JD Schickerling, Seabelo Senatla, Joshua Stander, Kobus van Dyk, Chris van Zyl, Alistair Vermaak, Jano Vermaak, EW Viljoen, George Whitehead, Cobus Wiese, Damian Willemse, Eddie Zandberg.