South Africa have named a 46-man preliminary squad for the upcoming Test series against the British and Irish Lions, and Morne Steyn has earned a recall.

Steyn, 36, scored a last-minute penalty to earn the Springboks a series win over the Lions in 2009, but has been absent from Test rugby for over four years.

Frans Steyn was also involved in that series triumph, and he too is named in the preliminary selection.

Their experience is balanced out with eight uncapped players, with Premiership side Sale having five representatives – Faf de Klerk, Lood de Jager and Coenie Oostheuizen as well as Jean-Luc and Dan du Preez.

The Springboks have not played on the international stage since they beat England in the Rugby World Cup final in November 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, they do have an injury concern over Duane Vermeulen, who sustained an ankle injury while in action for the Bulls on Friday.

The Lions' tour starts on July 3 in Johannesburg, with their three-Test series against South Africa bookending the trip.

A South Africa 'A' team will take on the Lions on July 14 in Cape Town, with the Springboks squad taken from the 46-player preliminary selection, which will be cut prior to the Test series starting on July 21.

It is the first time the Lions have visited South Africa since 2009, when they lost the series 2-1.

South Africa squad in full:

Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks, South Africa), Damian de Allende (Munster, Ireland), Lood de Jager (Sale Sharks, England), Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks, England), Dan du Preez (Sale Sharks, England), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks, England), Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Stormers, South Africa), Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks, South Africa), Joseph Dweba (Bordeaux-Begles, France), Rynhardt Elstadt (Toulouse, France), Eben Etzebeth (Toulon, France), Aphelele Fassi (Cell C Sharks, South Africa),  Elton Jantjies (Pau, France), Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers, South Africa), Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg (Montpellier, France), Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers, South Africa), Vincent Koch (Saracens, England), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse, France), Siya Kolisi (Cell C Sharks, South Africa), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles, Japan), Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz, Japan), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers, South Africa), Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks, South Africa), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears, Japan), Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers, South Africa), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat, Japan), Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks, South Africa), Sbu Nkosi (Cell C Sharks, South Africa), Sanele Nohamba (Cell C Sharks, South Africa), Scarra Ntubeni (DHL Stormers, South Africa), Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls, South Africa), Coenie Oosthuizen (Sale Sharks, England), Marvin Orie (DHL Stormers, South Africa), Yaw Penxe (Cell C Sharks, South Africa), Handre Pollard (Montpellier, France), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier, France), Wandisile Simelane (Emirates Lions, South Africa), Kwagga Smith (Yamaha Jubilo, Japan), RG Snyman (Munster, Ireland), Rosko Specman (Toyota Cheetahs, Japan), Morne Steyn (Vodacom Bulls, South Africa), Frans Steyn (Toyota Cheetahs, Japan), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls, South Africa), Duane Vermeulen (Vodacom Bulls, South Africa), Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers, England), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers, South Africa).