A group of 23 players involved in the Springboks' preliminary World Cup squad have been released back to their clubs and provinces to be available for Currie Cup selection this weekend.

The list includes 15 of the 29 players who were part of the squad for the away leg of the Tri-Nations Series.

"Eight of this group have not played any rugby since the end of the Super Rugby competition and have been on rehabilitation programmes, with their European clubs or with the Springbok squad," said Springbok coach Peter de Villiers.

"Our medical team is continuing assessments on the remainder of the players who were unavailable for selection for the away leg. There are still injury concerns around a number of them."

The eight players who have not appeared since the end of the Super Rugby season are: BJ Botha, Heinrich Brüssow, Elton Jantjies, Zane Kirchner, Francois Louw, Johann Muller, Adriaan Strauss and Coenie Oosthuizen.

De Villiers said the players released back to their provinces and clubs remained in contention for Springbok selection for the Tri-Nations and the World Cup.

The Springbok squad for the home leg of the Tri-Nations series will be announced on Friday.

Players released are: Bjorn Basson (Blue Bulls), BJ Botha (Munster), Heinrich Brüssow (Cheetahs), Adrian Jacobs (Sharks), Elton Jantjies (Lions), Zane Kirchner (Blue Bulls), Patrick Lambie (Sharks), Francois Louw (Bath), Charl McLeod (Sharks), Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), Odwa Ndungane (Sharks), Wynand Olivier (Blue Bulls), Dean Greyling (Blue Bulls), Alistair Hargreaves (Sharks), Ryan Kankowski (Sharks), Werner Kruger (Blue Bulls), Ashley Johnson (Cheetahs), Johann Muller (Ulster), Coenie Oosthuizen (Cheetahs), Chiliboy Ralepelle (Blue Bulls), Deon Stegmann (Blue Bulls), Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs), Flip van der Merwe (Blue Bulls).