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Cape Town - An injury to Blue Bulls lock Juandré Kruger could open the door for Fudge Mabeta to make his return to the side.
Kruger picked up an ankle injury against Griquas on Friday and will be out of action for at least one - but possibly two - weeks.
Blue Bulls team doctor, Org Strauss, told the Beeld newspaper that Kruger was diagnosed with a grade-one ankle ligament tear.
"He will definitely miss this weekend's game (on Friday at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium) against the Leopards.
"If his injury heals well, he could be considered for next weekend (against the Sharks)," said Strauss.
Kruger's injury may well open the door for Mabeta - who has fallen out of favour with coach Pine Pienaar.
Pienaar left Mabeta out of his group for the last two matches against the Pumas and Griquas. This was part of a cleaning-out process the coach has started at the Blue Bulls recently.
Mabeta is viewed as a No 2 lock as thus needs to compete with the burly Flip van der Merwe, hence his omission from the squad.
But Mabeta could also play as a No 4 lock, which could see him being drafted back into the Bulls fold for their clash against the Leopards.
Dewald Potgieter - who suffered a badly broken nose against the Lions a few weeks ago - should be fit to face the Leopards.
However, Pienaar might consider resting his stalwart flank, who has been in the wars in recent times, for another week.
Kruger picked up an ankle injury against Griquas on Friday and will be out of action for at least one - but possibly two - weeks.
Blue Bulls team doctor, Org Strauss, told the Beeld newspaper that Kruger was diagnosed with a grade-one ankle ligament tear.
"He will definitely miss this weekend's game (on Friday at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium) against the Leopards.
"If his injury heals well, he could be considered for next weekend (against the Sharks)," said Strauss.
Kruger's injury may well open the door for Mabeta - who has fallen out of favour with coach Pine Pienaar.
Pienaar left Mabeta out of his group for the last two matches against the Pumas and Griquas. This was part of a cleaning-out process the coach has started at the Blue Bulls recently.
Mabeta is viewed as a No 2 lock as thus needs to compete with the burly Flip van der Merwe, hence his omission from the squad.
But Mabeta could also play as a No 4 lock, which could see him being drafted back into the Bulls fold for their clash against the Leopards.
Dewald Potgieter - who suffered a badly broken nose against the Lions a few weeks ago - should be fit to face the Leopards.
However, Pienaar might consider resting his stalwart flank, who has been in the wars in recent times, for another week.
