THE Bulls averted a potential loose-forward crisis when Dewald Potgieter and CJ Stander were declared fit to play in the team's final tour match against the Chiefs on Friday.

The pair were injured in the Bulls' narrow defeat against the Highlanders but they have been given a clean bill of health for the clash in Hamilton.

Their recovery will come as a huge relief to coach Frans Ludeke who has had to operate for most of the season without specialist fetcher Deon Stegmann, while Potgieter has also spent an inordinate amount of time on the sidelines.

In the only change to the squad that ran the Highlanders close, lock Wilhelm Steenkamp replaces Juandré Kruger, who drops to the bench.

The Bulls have a rotational policy and coach Ludeke was at pains to explain that Kruger's demotion wasn't due to a loss of form or misdemeanour.

"We have a rotational policy and have a buy-in from all the players about it. Wilhelm has played very well off the bench thus far in the competition, so I have no problem in starting him. Juandré will obviously play an important role as substitute, which will be crucial against a classy side like the Chiefs."

Ludeke is wary of the threat the Chiefs pose. They have improved markedly, especially upfront, since the Bulls thumped them 61-17 in the 2009 final.

"They are a very difficult side to play against, especially now that their set-piece has improved," he said of the pacesetters in the New Zealand conference. "This helps them to play an all-round game and we will have to be on the money with our execution if we want to achieve a result."

Bulls captain Pierre Spies knows the result in Hamilton will define the team's tour. Should the Bulls win, it will be their third of their four-match tour. "Our work is not done and a good result will make this tour a very successful one. We disappointed ourselves against the Highlanders by not using our opportunities and need to get it right this time around. We will have to be up for it against a very respectable opponent," said Spies.