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MRI reveals worst for Willemse

Pretoria - Bulls lock Paul Willemse will be out of action for three months following a knee injury sustained in Saturday's win over the Kings, but there is a green light to the fitness of Wynand Olivier and Dewald Potgieter.

A MRI scan on Monday revealed an MCL injury to Willemse, ruling him out of action for the next nine weeks. He will undergo an operation on Wednesday.

Olivier and Potgieter will be available for selection though after recovering from their respective knee injuries. Olivier got injured on tour and Potgieter was a late withdrawal from the side that travelled down to Port Elizabeth, but according to team doctor Org Strauss, will be considered for Saturday's match against the Waratahs in Pretoria.

Francois Hougaard will also train on Wednesday and pending his fitness afterwards, could be considered for the weekend. He has an ankle injury.

Frik Kirsten (elbow), Deon Stegmann (ribs), Callie Visagie (ankle), Flip van der Merwe (chest muscle), Lionel Mapoe (foot) and Chiliboy Ralepelle (calves) all sat out of training on Monday, but will be considered for selection, Strauss confirmed.

Jean Cook (ankle) will also be back to fitness on Wednesday.

Hencus van Wyk (Shoulder, 1 week), Grant Hattingh (thumb fracture, 3 weeks), Zane Kirchner (finger operation, 3 weeks) and Francois Venter (groin, 7 weeks) are all out of action for now, but Marcel van der Merwe (knee rehab) will be back in training for the first time this year.

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