A hamstring strain has laid the normally tough-as-nails loose forward Schalk Burger low and as a result he will miss the Stormers' fixture against the Brumbies at Newlands on Friday.
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee, broke the news on Monday evening that his stand-out captain will require a 10-day lay-off in order for the injured hamstring to heal.
Burger left the field after 20 minutes' play against the Waratahs on Saturday at Newlands where he was fairly rampant early on with driving runs.
It is very likely Burger might also sit out the match against the Highlanders in a fortnight's time as he'll need time to regain match fitness.
Burger's absence will be a blow for the Cape franchise who will be looking to build on rare back-to-back wins at the start of a Super 14 season and who now occupy an unfamiliar lofty fourth position on the log.
However, Burger's replacement, Pieter Louw, earned accolades all round for an excellent display and is likely to be promoted to the run-on XV to complete the loose trio with Francois Louw and Duane Vermeulen.
Louw is nursing a minor injury and together with prop Brok Harris sat out at Monday's training.
Pieter Myburgh is likely to get the nod to provide loose forward cover on the substitutes' bench. The towering lock Andries Bekker will captain the side in Burger's absence.
After two outings, he has been equally inspiring with his graft at ruck time and the tight exchanges rather than his frequent incursions into the backline, as has been the case last season.
JC Kritzinger, who replaced the injured Wicus Blaauw at loosehead prop last week, will again pack down in the starting XV as the latter still needs more time for his injured shoulder to mend.
Apart from including flanker Pieter Louw, Coetzee is unlikely to tamper with the starting line-up for the Brumbies match although the much maligned rotation policy will have to kick in soon or suffer the consequences of player burnout.
There is also the matter of ensuring that second choices enjoy enough game time and be battle ready when player resources are sapped by injuries and suspensions as the season wears on.
