DHL Stormers star Damian Willemse, his teammate Salmaan Moerat and recently capped Springbok Sevens player Muller du Plessis have all been excused from a Junior Springbok camp to focus on their current senior commitments.
Chean Roux's Junior Springbok squad will gather for a third training camp in Stellenbosch on Tuesday, 27 March as part of their preparations for the World Rugby U20 Championship -- which will be held in France from 30 May-17 June.
Roux initially invited 37 players to the camp including Moerat, Willemse and Du Plessis but they will now not attend, owing to the ongoing Super Rugby competition and the injury-hit Springbok Sevens' preparations for the next World Series tournaments.
"We are delighted that Damian, Salmaan and Muller are doing well in Vodacom Super Rugby and at the Blitzboks respectively," said Roux in a SA Rugby press release.
"They will gain a lot of experience and confidence with those teams, and that is exactly what we would like from a national perspective."
Despite the trios absence there will, though, be three new faces in the squad as Ruan Nortje (lock, Vodacom Blue Bulls), Zak Burger (scrumhalf, Cell C Sharks) and David Kriel (fullback, DHL Western Province) have been called up for their first involvement in the national under-20 set-up.
They will hope to impress in what will be last of three short camps before the training squad switches into match mode in the lead-up to the U20 Championship. That will entail two home internationals against Georgia and a UK tour, where they will face Scotland, Wales and England before arriving in France.
Commenting on the camp, Roux said: "It was always our intention to invite a large squad to the first two training camps, and then reduce the size of the group as our preparation progresses.
"The inclusion of the three new players, however, shows that the door is still open for players to work their way into contention for places in the 28-man squad for the U20 Championship.
"That said, having a smaller group to work with at the next camp will allow us to focus more on individual skills and to get a closer look at the players as the tournament draws closer."
Roux is well aware that the squad is now moving into the critical phase of preparations for a tournament they have only won once before, at home in 2012.
"We have five internationals lined up before the tournament, and this means that we will have fewer training sessions, as effective player management will be essential," Roux said, bearing in mind the 11 weeks to go mark.
"So the next camp will be vital in ensuring that the structures are in place and that the players know what is expected of them on the field."
The Junior Springboks have been drawn in Pool C for the international spectacle, and will face Georgia on Wednesday, 30 May; Ireland on Sunday, 3 June; and France on Thursday, 7 June.
Players invited to Junior Springbok training camp (27-30 March):
Props: Cabous Eloff (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Keagan Glade (Xerox Golden Lions), Leon Lyons (DHL Western Province), Sazi Sandi (DHL Western Province), Alulutho Tshakweni (Eastern Province), Tiaan van der Merwe (Xerox Golden Lions).
Hookers: PJ Botha (Xerox Golden Lions), Schalk Erasmus (DHL Western Province), Daniel Jooste (DHL Western Province), Fezokuhle Mbatha (Cell C Sharks).
Locks: Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Western Province), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Western Province), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Blue Bulls), PJ Steenkamp (Xerox Golden Lions), Ruan Vermaak (Xerox Golden Lions).
Loose forwards: Phendulani Buthelezi (Cell C Sharks), Francke Horn (DHL Western Province), Shaine Orderson (DHL Western Province), Ryno Pieterse (Vodacom Blue Bulls), JC Pretorius (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Muller Uys (DHL Western Province).
Scrumhalves: Richman Gora (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Jack Hart (Xerox Golden Lions), Rewan Kruger (Toyota Free State), Zak Burger (Cell C Sharks).
Flyhalves: David Coetzer (DHL Western Province), Johannes Steenkamp (Leopards), Damian Willemse (DHL Western Province).
Centres: Lyle Hendricks (DHL Western Province), Rikus Pretorius (DHL Western Province), Manuel Rass (Xerox Golden Lions), Wandisile Simelane (Xerox Golden Lions).
Outside backs: Muller du Plessis (Cell C Sharks), Tyrone Green (Xerox Golden Lions), David Kriel (DHL Western Province), Gianni Lombard (Xerox Golden Lions), Sakoyisa Makata (DHL Western Province).