Cape Town - The Stormers will conclude their 2019 Super Rugby season without the services of star lock Eben Etzebeth.
According to reports, Etzebeth has a broken hand, sustained in the Cape side's horror 41-22 defeat to the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Etzebeth was seen receiving treatment and having his hand strapped shortly before half-time and didn't appear for the second stanza.
Initially the SuperSport commentators mentioned on air that Etzebeth had broken his ankle, but that appears to have been an inaccurate diagnosis.
The Stormers will need to regroup ahead of their final two matches against the Sunwolves (Saturday, June 8 - 17:15) and Sharks (Saturday, June 15 - 15:05) - both at Newlands.
Victory in those matches will almost certainly book an unlikely playoff spot (at 8-8) for a team currently rock-bottom of the South African Conference and 11th in the Overall standings.
The Stormers will also be without inspirational skipper Siya Kolisi for the remainder of the tournament, and are sweating on injuries to a host of other key players, including Pieter-Steph du Toit, Cobus Wiese and Kobus van Dyk.