South Africa's Stormers have received a major blow ahead of the Super Rugby season with the news that influential lock Eben Etzebeth is likely to be out until May at least.
The second-rower is recovering from shoulder and back injuries picked up as he captained the Springboks against Wales in their final Test of 2017.
Doctors have suggested Etzebeth should be back in May, after which he will be in a race against time to prove his form and fitness ahead of the Boks' three-Test home series against England in June.
It means the 26-year-old is likely to miss 10 matches of the Stormers' Super Rugby season (which starts on 17 February against Jaguares from Argentina), including their tour of Australia and New Zealand in March.
Stormers coach Robbie Fleck has options in the second row including Jan de Klerk (a specialist No. 4), Currie Cup captain Chris van Zyl and Etzebeth's regular Springbok partner Pieter-Steph du Toit.