Bloemfontein - The Cheetahs look set to offload a number of fringe players before the beginning of the 2019 PRO14 season.

According to Afrikaans newspaper Rapport, the cleanout stems from SA Rugby's announcement that the 2019 Currie Cup season will be completed before the 2019/20 PRO14 season gets underway.

It means that the Cheetahs will not have to field two separate sides in two separate competitions as they had to do when the Currie Cup overlapped with the PRO14 in both 2017 and 2018.

As a result, the Cheetahs will not need as many players on their books.

According to the report, Cheetahs CEO Harold Verster has sent letters to the players' agents informing them of the union's desire to cut salary cuts.

The Cheetahs finished bottom of the Currie Cup Premier Division log this season and are currently sixth (out of 7 teams) in Conference A of the PRO14 with just 2 wins from 10 matches.

