The Free State Cheetahs face the possibility of not having one of their star players available for the Currie Cup playoffs.
Frans Steyn, who last week signed a new one-year deal with the Bloem outfit, played just over 20 minutes before being replaced in Saturday’s defeat by Griquas in Kimberley.
He came off with a thigh injury, and on Monday it was confirmed the versatile Springbok faces two to three weeks on the sidelines.
READ: Currie Cup still worth Steyn’s full attention
The 35-year-old is set to miss the Cheetahs’ remaining two league matches – against the fifth-placed Pumas and front-runners Vodacom Bulls – and will hopefully be eligible for the semi-finals on 18 June.
The Cheetahs trail the Bulls by six points, but the Free Staters have a game in hand and have already booked a place in the last-four stage of the competition.
Meanwhile, standout loose forwards Gideon van der Merwe and Andisa Ntsila have signed extensions with the Cheetahs.
Also, flank Daniel Maartens and utility back Tapiwa Mafura will return to Bloem in November after a stint at the Pumas.
