Loose-forward Duane Vermeulen has been ruled out of the entire three-match home series with France, South African Rugby confirmed on Tuesday.
The Toulon player was earlier this week listed as unavailable for the first Test at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, but it has now been confirmed that the shoulder injury he picked up playing for his club in the Top 14 final against Clermont on Sunday will mean his absence for this full international window.
Assistant coach Johan van Graan believes that the Springboks do have cover at flank though, which was where Vermeulen was slated to line-up as his regular number eight position was filled by new Bok skipper Warren Whiteley.
"He is a world-class forward, and a fantastic asset to have in your side," Van Graan told reporters on Tuesday.
"Team selection is the task of coach Allister [Coetzee], but what I can tell you is that we have some brilliant loose forwards in our squad, and the selections will be made according to what is needed for the coming challenge."
In terms of that challenge, Van Graan says the set-pieces will be a huge area of contention and whoever gets the upper-hand in those battles will have a major advantage.
"If you look at the 2016 set-piece stats, then South Africa and France were number one in the world with a 95 percent success rate," he said.
"The French have got a very good scrum and a brilliant line-out, plus they defend the driving maul well. However, we want to concentrate on ourselves, doing the things we have to do."
Aside from Vermeulen, there are other players in the current Springbok camp such as Frans Steyn, who have intimate knowledge of the mechanisms of French rugby.
"We're fortunate to have a few players who have played in France and who know a bit about them, but as coaches we've done our homework and we will be well prepared on Saturday," Van Graan said.