The Southern Kings will be without flanker Chris Cloete and full-back Masixole Banda when they face the Brumbies in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
Cloete has been one of the key members in the Kings side this season with some consistent performances, but was unfortunate to sustain a concussion in last weekend’s 35-32 home victory over the Sharks.
In adhering to the World Rugby concussion protocol, Cloete will be rested and not made available for selection this week for the Brumbies clash before going through the return-to-play protocol next week before he is made available ahead of the Kings’ trip to Johannesburg where they will face the Lions.
The Kings were dealt a further setback with a hamstring injury ruling out Banda. The 28-year-old will undergo scans this week to ascertain the extent of the injury.
Kings team doctor Konrad von Hagen said Banda would be unlikely to face the Brumbies this weekend.
After making good progress in his recovery from a long-term knee injury sustained last season, flanker CJ Velleman received a setback when he damaged the same knee at training last week.
The 22-year-old will require surgery on the injured knee, Von Hagen confirmed.
On a positive side, the team doctor confirmed that prop Justin Forwood underwent a successful operation on Monday on the knee he injured in the Kings’ win over the Melbourne Rebels late last month.
The 23-year-old will be out of action for nine months.
Meanwhile, loose forward Ruaan Lerm, who has been nursing an ankle injury is back at training this week and a decision on his availability for selection will be made later in the week.
Von Hagen is also pleased with the progress that is being made by Malcolm Jaer, who has been out of action since midway through the team’s Australian tour where he injured his knee.
The team doctor is also happy with the recovery of scrum-half Rudi van Rooyen (ankle), lock Cameron Lindsay (knee) and prop Schalk Ferreira (biceps).
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