The leading South African side the Stormers will be without their flanker Pieter Louw for the rest of the Super Rugby season.
Louw suffered a knee injury during their 51-16 win over the Western Force in Cape Town at the weekend and x-rays show he'll need season-ending surgery.
However the loss of Louw coincides with the return of Schalk Burger from a knee injury.
The Stormers are at the Sharks this weekend.