The Sharks will be sweating over the fitness of several key players, as they start their build-up to the Super Rugby crunch match against the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.

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Coach John Plumtree confirmed that seasoned lock Steven Sykes is a doubtful starter for the Loftus Versfeld decider.

“Steven [Sykes] hurt his knee and couldn’t come out after half-time,” Plumtree said of the lock’s injury in their 30-all draw against the Lions.

“He is pretty doubtful for the Bulls game this weekend.”

Plumtree added that they are hoping to have Springbok wing Odwa Ndungane back, which “gives me some more options, which we’ll definitely need in Pretoria”.

The Sharks started the match against the Lions without several key players.

Burly loose forward Jean Deysel will return from his two-match ban for a choke-hold tackle against the Waratahs.

Fellow loose forward Willem Alberts, who failed a fitness test last week, is again  being monitored this week with a shoulder injury.

The Sharks coach is also waiting to see how Bok prop Jannie du Plessis is recovering and will make a call on him later in the week as well