Sharks wunderkind Pat Lambie may play in the historic match against the Crusaders at Twickenham on Sunday with a protective support on his fractured finger.

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Sharks team doctor Ewoudt van der Linde confirmed  that Lambie will see the specialist on Tuesday, after he suffered a small fracture in the middle finger on his left hand.

It is depending on Tuesday’s verdict – which could range from a minor surgical procedure to being cleared to play – whether the talented utility back will travel to London with the rest of the team on Thursday.

“It might sideline him, but it won’t be too long,” Van der Linde said, when asked about the injury Lambie suffered in the 9-15 loss to the Chiefs in Hamilton last Friday.

“However, we are waiting to hear if perhaps he can play,” the doctor told rugby365.com, adding that the injury happened early in the game.

Lambie did not realise he had fractured the finger and completed the match.

It was only afterwards that discomfort and scans revealed there was a minor fracture.

The Sharks are playing the Crusaders in London this week and then the Stormers in Durban a week later, before the first of their two bye weeks.

Depending on the full extent of the injury the young flyhalf may be rested till after the break.

“We are waiting to hear from the specialist on Tuesday and we will be guided by what he tells us,” Van der Linde told rugby365.com.

“Maybe there is a chance that we can just strap it or make a special protective cover to support the finger for the next two weeks and that will be great.

“However, we certainly won’t take any chance, because there is a very small, outside chance that it may require a minor surgical procedure.”

The team doctor also revealed that World Cup-winning Springbok wing JP Pietersen is making faster progress than expected after knee surgery – following an injury he suffered in the opening match on tour in Perth.

“He is looking good and has started running already and should be back in two to three weeks,” Van der Linde said, adding, his return to the playing field will be much sooner than expected.

Burly loose forward Jean Deysel i also close to a return from injury and could start for the Vodacom Cup team in the next week or two – to see how his knee holds up.

By mid-April, just after the Sharks’ bye, he could be on the bench for the Super Rugby team.

Lock Ross Skeate has made a full recovery from his finger fracture and is available for the Vodacom Cup team this week.