Cape Town - Should Proteas star Faf du Plessis miss the opening Test of the four-match series against England at Lord's starting on July 6, it will end a 119-Test streak for the Proteas fielding at least one of AB de Villiers or Du Plessis in their starting XI.
Du Plessis' wife Imari is due to give birth to the couple's first child in early July, putting Du Plessis' participation in the first Test in serious doubt.
Meanwhile, De Villiers back in January of this year ruled himself out of the England Test series.
The last Test the Proteas started without the duo was back in November 2004 against India in Kolkata, a Test the Proteas lost by 8 wickets.
That Test was 119 matches ago - or a staggering 43 Test series.
De Villiers would go on to make his debut in the first Test of the Proteas' next series (at home to England in Port Elizabeth in December 2004) and play 99 consecutive matches.
De Villiers' current Test tally stands at 106.
Du Plessis made his Test debut in November 2012 against Australia in Adelaide and has played 40 matches for his country to date.