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However, the powerful Bismarck du Plessis is fit and he should take his place in the middle of the front row as the Sharks look to get back to winning ways against a Brumbies team that look to be ripe for the picking.
The Canberra-based outfit have a number of Wallaby stars in their ranks but have underperformed badly this year, winning only two of their nine games so far.
Despite the 10th placed Brumbies' poor record this season Sharks assistant coach Grant Bashford is adamant that it would be foolish to write them off as a threat.
He told The Mercury: "The Brumbies will be disappointed with their results this season, but they are a team that you can't really judge just on their log position.
"They have some exceptional players and have played very good rugby in patches, so we'll have to be sharp on defence," he explained.
Bashford was frustrated with the Sharks' poor performance against the Stormers last week and he expects a physical onslaught from his side who feel that they have a point to prove.
"I really think the boys will be hurting. I expect this weekend's game to be a very physical and angry performance," he said.
Sharks loose forward Jacques Botes will have a fitness test later in the week to see whether he has recovered from the ankle injury that ruled him out of the match against the Stormers.
