The Sharks were dealt a blow after Springbok scrum-half Louis Schreuder was ruled out for the first month of Super Rugby due to injury.
Schreuder suffered a hamstring injury in the Durban-based franchise's 31-14 win over the Bulls in a pre-season fixture in Polokwane during January and according to a Sharks medical report, the 27-year-old's return is estimated at between four and six weeks.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Ward, who was selected to play in both warm-up matches – against the Bulls and then Racing 92 this past weekend in Hong Kong – sadly suffered a hand fracture which has necessitated surgical fixation. The centre will be out for around eight weeks.
Of the Sharks' other injured players, Springbok prop Coenie Oosthuizen will not be available for much of the Super Rugby season. He returned home from the Boks' end-of-year tour in November last year after sustaining a knee injury against Ireland.
The ACL rupture is responding well to treatment and his rehabilitation is going very well. His expected return to play is nine months.
Oosthuizen is the only severe, long term injury that the Sharks are treating, although there are a number of players who have had minor surgeries and other injuries that will keep them out of action for a few more weeks.
Bok back-row Jean-Luc du Preez underwent ankle surgery in November and is on track for a return to action in March.
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