Coach Peter de Villiers said on Wednesday that injury-hit South Africa would be at full strength when they start their Rugby World Cup title defence on September 11 against Wales.
Loose forwards Juan Smith and Duane Vermeulen and lock Andries Bekker have been ruled out of the 20-team, quadrennial rugby union showcase in New Zealand.
And fears that full-back Francois Steyn and full-back/centre/fly-half Patrick Lambie could also miss the tournament were dispelled only on the eve of the squad announcement this week.
Flank Schalk Burger will go to the September 9-October 23 tournament having missed the entire Tri-Nations championship due to a dislocated right thumb.
“If there was a Test on Saturday, they would all be available to play other than Patrick Lambie (shoulder) and Francois Steyn (hamstring),” assured De Villiers.
“We will have a full squad to choose from for our first match of the tournament on September 11 against Wales.”
Island teams Fiji and Samoa and rank outsiders Namibia are the other Pool D contenders with the top two finishers advancing to the quarter-finals.
South Africa are widely expected to top the table and confront Ireland for a place among the last four in a competition New Zealand are hosting a second time.
Several Springboks sat out training Wednesday as the defending champions began their countdown to the World Cup on a clear, late-winter day at a high school in an elite Johannesburg suburb.
Those watching from the sideline were recovering from bumps and bruises sustained in an 18-5 Tri-Nations Test victory over New Zealand in Port Elizabeth last Saturday.
South Africa have also named 12 stand-by players should any of the 30-strong squad be injured.
The list includes young Sharks wing Lwazi Mvovo, widely considered the unluckiest player among those who failed to make the squad.
Stand-by Springboks
Forwards: Jean Deysel (Sharks), Dean Greyling (Blue Bulls), Alistair Hargreaves (Sharks), Ashley Johnson (Free State Cheetahs), Werner Kruger (Bulls), Gerhard Mostert (Stade Francais/FRA), Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs)Backs: Elton Jantjies (Golden Lions), Zane Kirchner (Bulls), Charl McLeod (Sharks), Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), Wynand Olivier (Bulls)
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