Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz included Pepe in his 24-man preliminary World Cup squad Monday even though the Real Madrid defender hasn't played since an injury in December.
Pepe was a standout during Portugal's lackluster qualifying campaign before he underwent surgery on his right knee. He recently returned to training.
Queiroz also selected Zenit St. Petersburg striker Danny, who didn't play for almost a year after a serious ligament injury in May 2009.
Queiroz initially said he would announce his final 23-man squad Monday, but he added one more spot and indicated that he was waiting to check players' fitness at a training camp starting Friday.
He has to cut one player before the final squad is handed to FIFA by the June 1 deadline.
Queiroz said he had "one or two doubts" about player fitness but did not elaborate.
"Things can happen at a training camp and we want to be sure the ones we take are in the best shape," Queiroz said at the presentation. Journalists were not permitted to ask questions.
Queiroz said he was hoping Cristiano Ronaldo, who was dogged by injuries and failed to score during qualifying, would be on top form in South Africa.
"We all know that because of his fitness and his injuries he couldn't give his best," Queiroz said of Ronaldo. "Now we'll do all we can to get him properly ready."
Queiroz sprang a surprise by choosing Beto and Daniel Fernandes as his backup goalkeepers, even though neither of them featured during qualifying. Neither did defenders Ze Castro and Ricardo Costa, who have only three caps between them.
Portugal reached the semifinals at the 2006 World Cup and is in Group G with five-time world champion Brazil, Ivory Coast and North Korea.
Portugal's opening game is against Ivory Coast - described by Queiroz as "one of the candidates for a podium finish" - on June 15.
Portugal squad:
Goalkeepers: Eduardo (FC Braga), Beto (FC Porto), Daniel Fernandes (Iraklis).
Defenders: Duda (Malaga), Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Miguel Brito (Valencia), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Rolando (FC Porto), Fabio Coentrao (Benfica), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ze Castro (Deportivo, Ricardo Costa (Lille).
Midfielders: Deco (Chelsea), Tiago (Atletico Madrid), Raul Meireles (FC Porto), Pedro Mendes (Sporting), Miguel Veloso (Sporting Lisbon).
Forwards: Nani (Manchester United), Simao Sabrosa (Atletico Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Danny (Zenit St. Petersburg), Liedson (Sporting Lisbon).
