Schalk Burger

Experienced flank Schalk Burger is in doubt for the Stormers’ clash against the Sharks in Durban this weekend as he continues to battle with a neck injury.

Burger injured his neck in a tackle from Coenie Oosthuizen in the Stormers’ 33-0 victory over the Cheetahs at Newlands on Saturday and will be assessed again later in the week but at this stage is considered a 50/50 chance to face the Sharks at Kings Park.

Wing Kobus van Wyk will not be considered for selection, having re-injured his wrist which has ruled him out for the next three weeks.

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Van Wyk, a late starter against the Cheetahs last week after captain Jean de Villiers cried off with a knee injury, will be available for selection again after the June break.

Samoan wing Sailosi Tagicakibau (calf muscle) came through the Cheetahs match well and will be considered for selection against the Sharks along with Argentine lock Manuel Carizza who has finally recovered from his wrist injury.

Hooker / flank Deon Fourie (concussion) has showed no further symptoms after failing a pitch-side test on Saturday. He will be tested again before the weekend.

Prop Alistair Vermaak and winger Cheslin Kolbe both sat out training with bumps and bruises from the weekend but will be available for selection.

Stormers coach Allister Coetzee said that the table-topping Sharks will be a tough prospect on home turf as his side chase their first away win this season.

“The Sharks are not the current Super Rugby log-leaders for nothing.”

“They’ve grown in confidence as the tournament has progressed and their win over the Crusaders in Christchurch says a lot about their character and state of mind.”

“They are a physical side who are strong at the breakdown and with a good kicking game. This is, without doubt, our biggest challenge of the year.”

“The Sharks are a side that like to punish any errors, so we will need to be accurate again as we were against the Cheetahs at Newlands on Saturday,” he said.

The following Stormers players remain sidelined with injuries at present: Prop Steven Kitshoff (knee and foot), hookers Siyabonga Ntubeni (broken foot) and Tiaan Liebenberg (neck), locks Eben Etzebeth (foot – available again after the June break), Jurie van Vuuren (shoulder), De Kock Steenkamp (groin), Rynhardt Elstadt (shoulder) and Gerbrandt Grobler (shoulder), scrumhalves Louis Schreuder (fractured thumb) and Godlen Masimla (wrist), centre Jean de Villiers (knee) and fullbacks Gio Aplon (elbow) and Ryno Eksteen (knee).