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Cape Town - The Stormers will be without scrumhalf Jano Vermaak for their Super Rugby clash against the Chiefs at Newlands on Saturday.
The 32-year-old has been in good form for the Capetonians in 2017, but he left the field after just 13 minutes of this past Saturday's 53-10 win over the Cheetahs with what was later confirmed as a concussion.
As a result, Vermaak has been ruled out of the Chiefs clash.
Dewaldt Duvenage has been impressive for the Stormers too, particularly against the Cheetahs, and he will be favoured to start on Saturday.
The only other news on the Stormers injury front is positive, with prop Wilco Louw returning from a sternum injury and available for selection once again.
The Stormers met the Chiefs in the quarter-finals of last year's tournament when they were hammered 60-21 at Newlands.
They have won five from five so far this season, but they are about to have their first taste of New Zealand opposition and their biggest test of the campaign so far.
"They’re a physical outfit, extreme tempo and intensity that we couldn’t match last year," Fleck said.
"There were stages that we felt we were trying to fight back in that game, but they just lifted the tempo again.
"They’re a difficult side to play against … they pride themselves on their aggression and physicality and tactically they’re smart. They don’t give you an inch in any area.
"We have to take step up. It will be something that we haven’t faced this year yet. It’s a good chance for us to see how far we’ve come."
Kick-off on Saturday is at 17:15.
