Burger missed the whole of last season due to a knee injury sustained in the Stormers' 2012 opener against the Hurricanes which allowed De Villiers to captain the Cape Town-based outfit.

But according to Die Burger's website, Burger has recovered from that injury and is the favourite to start the upcoming season as captain.

Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer has stated recently that he was impressed with De Villiers' leadership and he wants the 31-year-old centre to continue leading the national side in 2013.

Meanwhile, Stormers coach Allister Coetzee willgive more clarity regarding the injuries to wing Bryan Habana (knee), scrum-half Dewaldt Duvenage (leg), utility forward Rynhardt Elstadt (breastbone), centre Marcel Brache and hooker Tiaan Liebenberg (both neck injuries) for the upcoming season.

The Stormers kick off their Super Rugby campaign against the Bulls in Pretoria on Friday, February 22.