The Stormers have big problems in the middle of their engine room ahead of this coming Friday’s Super Rugby clash against the Rebels in Melbourne.
Chris van Zyl returned to Cape Town on Sunday evening along with captain Siya Kolisi and backline player SP Marais.
Van Zyl suffered a back injury in the Capetonians’ latest defeat - the 24-12 loss to the Reds last weekend - and will be out for at least six weeks.
He joins Springbok Eben Etzebeth, JD Schickerling and Pieter-Steph du Toit as possible locks that have left their Australasia tour to return home.
The Stormers camp know they are in for a real test of their depth.
BIG CHANCE: Salmaan Moerat. Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix.
Assistant coach Paul Feeney explains: “With the latest crop gone, it takes us to seven players that have left the camp.
“And that is a lot of experience. We must play to our strengths - the flipside is that it gives opportunities to some of the other guys.
“We don’t have some of the big names up front, but guys such as Ernst van Rhyn and Kobus van Dyk are chomping at the bit.”
Of the locks, he adds: “Losing JD Schickerling, Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Chris van Zyl - they are all our lineout callers.
“We’ve got to look at Ernst, Kobus Wiese and Salmaan Moerat - but we’re not too worried. We’ve got to look at the best out of the group and get on with it.
“They have to step up and take their opportunities.”