The Crusaders will kick-start the "formal" pre-season activities when they travel to Greymouth on the West Coast on Friday to take on a Crusaders Regional XV.

The Lions, the South African team formerly known as the Cats (which also incorporated the Cheetahs - but now combines the Lions, Leopards and Pumas), will also be in action on Friday in a game against a Puma XV in Secunda.

The big game on Saturday sees arch rivals the Bulls host the Stormers in Pretoria, while the Cheetahs host Samoa in Kimberley.

Provisional Super 14 per-season fixtures:

Blues:
Wed, 17 Jan: v Reds, Whangarei - 18.00 (05.00 GMT)
Thu, 25 Jan: v Chiefs, Rotorua - 19.00 (06.00 GMT)

Brumbies:
Sat, 20 Jan: v Waratahs, Wollongong - 19.00 (08.00 GMT)
Fri, 26 Jan: v Hurricanes, Canberra - TBC

Bulls:
Sat, 13 Jan: v Stormers, Pretoria - TBC
Sat, 20 Jan: v Lions, Pretoria - TBC

Cheetahs:
Sat, 13 Jan: v Samoa, Kimberley - 16.00 (14.00 GMT)
Sat, 20 Jan: v Central Unions XV, Welkom, TBC
Wed, 24 Jan: v Sharks, Durban - TBC

Chiefs:
Thu, 18 Jan: v Hurricanes, Wanganui - 18.00 (05.00 GMT)
Thu, 25 Jan: v Blues, Rotorua - 19.00 (06.00 GMT)

Crusaders:
Fri, 12 Jan: v Crusaders Regional XV, Greymouth - 17.30 (04.30 GMT)
Fri, 19 Jan: v Western Force, Melbourne - 19.05 (08.05 GMT)
Thu, 25 Jan: v Waratahs, Sydney - TBC

Highlanders:
Thu, 18 Jan: Trial Game, Dunedin - TBC
Fri, 26 Jan: v Reds, Gold Coast - 19.00 (09.00 GMT)

Hurricanes:
Thu, 18 Jan: v Chiefs, Wanganui - 18.00 (05.00 GMT)

Lions:
Fri, 12 Jan: v Pumas, Secunda - 19.00 (17.00 GMT)
Sat, 13 Jan: v Leopards, Potchefstroom - TBC
Sat, 20 Jan: v Bulls, Pretoria - TBC

Reds:
Wed, 17 Jan: v Blues, Whangarei - 18.00 (05.00 GMT)
Sat, 20 Jan: v Samoa, Gold Coast - 19.00 (09.00 GMT)
Fri, 26 Jan: v Highlanders, Gold Coast - 19.00 (09.00 GMT)

Sharks:
Wed, 24 Jan: v Cheetahs, Durban - TBC

Stormers:
Sat, 13 Jan: v Bulls, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria - TBC
Sat, 20 Jan: v Boland, Wellington - 18.00

Waratahs:
Sat, 20 Jan: v Brumbies, Wollongong - 19.00 (08.00 GMT)
Thu, 25 Jan: v Crusaders, Sydney - TBC

Western Force:
Sat, 13 Jan: Intra-club trial, Perth - TBC
Fri, 19 Jan: v Crusaders, Melbourne - 19.05 (08.05 GMT)
Thu, 25 Jan: v Samoa, Perth - TBC