Christo Buchner

Durban - The Sharks will be able to call on French flair for Saturday's Super Rugby playoff against the Crusaders in Nelson after all.

Sharks commercial manager Rudolf Straeuli said that  had gained permission to play, even if he has not played four games for the Sharks in the tournament.

"The reason is that he has come in as a replacement for the injured Conrad Hoffmann and is therefore entitled to play in the playoffs, even if he does not meet SANZAR's requirement of four games," Straueli said at Kings Park on Tuesday.

Michalak started a game for the first time in last week's victory over the Blues, though he was also involved as a substitute against the Lions the previous weekend.

He was on the bench against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein just days after arriving in South Africa, but was not involved then. Michalak was locked in the change room that day and nowhere to be seen during the first 10 minutes of the game.

It's only when players on the bench started to look around and wondered where their new team-mate was that they eventually realised a security guard had accidentally locked him in the dressing room. His calls and hammering against the door fell on deaf ears.

However, Michalak's five-star performance against the Bulls certainly proved an attention-grabber and he was one of the main reasons - especially with his excellent drop goal early in the first half - for the difference between the sides.

A different kind of test awaits him in Nelson. There is a prediction of rain and he will be expected to control the game more with his boot.