Burger received only a yellow card on the day as the Springboks went on to clinch the series with a 28-25 victory but he was subsequently suspended for his actions and played no part in the third Test against the Lions or the three wins that marked the start of the current Tri Nations campaign.

That ban comes to an end this week, meaning Burger will be available for selection for the Boks' next game against Australia on August 29.

South Africa head coach Peter de Villiers will then face a difficult decision as to whether to recall his talismanic flanker or to stick with the in-form Heinrich Brussow, who was one of the stars of the series win over the Lions earlier this summer.

Both players could yet feature against the Wallabies, with fellow back row Juan Smith struggling with injury. The Cheetahs skipper is expected to be fit in time for the clash in Perth, though, and de Villiers may instead opt for a rotation policy ahead of three fixtures on successive weekends.

After taking on Robbie Deans' men in Perth in a week's time, the world champions face the same opposition in Brisbane the following Saturday, before completing their Tri Nations series against New Zealand in Hamilton a week later.