Elstadt to miss season opener

The lock is facing a month on the sidelines after he suffered a grade one ankle ligament tear against the Southern Kings on Saturday.

The Stormers are already without hooker Deon Fourie after the hooker broke his hand in the same match.

And coach Allister Coetzee claims he could now have to dip into his wider training group to bolster his current squad.

"Elstadt is a real concern," Coetzee told Sport24.

Problem

"I don't know when Elstadt will be back and the medical staff is still looking at his situation. If he won't be in time for the start of the season, I'll have to bring in cover in the squad."

Siyabonga Ntubeni is set to provide back-up to first-choice hooker Tiaan Liebenberg in the absence of Fourie.

"Deon's absence leaves us with a problem but Scara (Ntubeni) is next in line," said Coetzee.

"He's young and has done well in the past when we called on him, so I have confidence in him."