Springbok lock Franco Mostert will not play against England at Twickenham on Saturday.
And that might open the door for Stormers lock-cum-flank Pieter-Steph du Toit to return to the middle of the engine room alongside Cape teammate Eben Etzebeth.
Mostert has been locked in a contractual battle between the Lions and English club Gloucester and it’s because of this dispute that he will be missing the start of the Boks’ tour of the UK.
Coach Rassie Erasmus explains: “It is such a touchy thing at this stage.
“For a person to settle in at Gloucester, we just decided not to use him this weekend, personally for him to settle at his new club.
“But we are fortunate that Pieter-Steph [du Toit] has played there a lot, Lood de Jager is fit again, RG Snyman is here.
"So we have some options. We will miss him but it is fair to give him time to settle in.”
OPTIONS: Coach Rassie. Photo: MUZI NTOMBELA/BACKPAGEPIX
Mostert isn’t the only Springbok who will miss the game, with Toulouse fullback Cheslin Kolbe and Wasps No.15 Willie le Roux both also unavailable.
That leaves only WP rookie Damian Willemse and ex-Stormers veteran Gio Aplon as realistic options to man the last line of defence against Eddie Jones’s charges.
Before leaving for the UK, Erasmus hinted that he will use Willemse at fullback, with Aplon last having played for SA in 2012.