Port Elizabeth - Flyhalf Handre Pollard has been ruled out of contention for selection for the Springboks' opening Rugby Championship opener against Argentina.
READ: Dreyer answers Bok SOS after Malherbe injury
Pollard has been plagued by injuries for a number of years having spent the entire 2016 season on the sidelines.
And according to Reuters, he has not quite overcome the ankle injury he has been battling with since April and therefore won't be available for the clash with Los Pumas at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.
Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has Elton Jantjies and Curwin Bosch as options at No 10.
And to add insult to injury, first-choice scrumhalf Ross Cronje has been training on his own after he suffered shoulder and chest injuries while playing for the Lions in the Super Rugby final on August 5.
Fortunately Coetzee has strength in depth in this position with experienced duo Francois Hougaard and Rudy Paige providing the cover.
The Boks will be looking to improve on their disastrous 2016 Rugby Championship campaign, in which they finished third, by starting with a win on Saturday.