The Stormers have lost Springbok prop CJ van der Linde but should have Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie and Peter Grant back for their match against the Brumbies this weekend.

Young prop Frans Malherbe has been called up to replace Van der Linde.

“CJ would not have been ready for this weekend’s game against the Brumbies and I don’t have any guarantee that he will be for next weekend’s game against the Melbourne Rebels,” Stormers coach Allister Coetzee said.

“We’re therefore giving him a full two weeks so that we will have him fit for the important games against the Bulls and Cheetahs when we return to South Africa.”

“Frans Malherbe played for us earlier in the tournament and slots back in with us.”

Tighthead prop in Brok Harris is expected to slot straight into the starting line up against the Brumbies so there is not an immediate crisis.

Flyhalf Grant did not take part in Monday’s training session but the Stormers hope that if they manage him well he will play this weekend.

“Peter participated in about 50% of the session and we want to manage him in such a manner that he’s operating at 100% come Friday’s captains run,” said Coetzee.

The Stormers called up youngster Kurt Coleman and he will join up with the team later in the week and provides cover at flyhalf and fullback.

Coetzee admitted that it will be a “bit of a headache” to pick a centre pairing this weekend as De Villiers and Fourie took full part in training and Juan de Jongh and Johann Sadie are clearly in form after their performances against the Blues.

Meanwhile there have been rumours that former Springbok Derick Hougaard or Irish fullback Rob Kearney would join the team but Western province director of coaching Rassie Erasmus says that neither will be joining them.