South Africa's world champions have suffered a significant blow if they are to contest the 2020 Rugby Championship in Australia later in the year.
Star first five-eighths Handré Pollard has torn anterior cruciate ligaments in a knee while playing for his French team Montpellier.
It is the second time he has suffered a ligament rupture, the last being in 2016.
His recovery is expected to take between six and nine months and will have South African fans on tenterhooks as he will be a central part of their plans to beat the British & Irish Lions next year.
However, the Springboks are not without some depth in the position. Elton Jantjies, 30, has played 37 Tests although he has only started sporadically in the last three seasons.
Damian Willemse is another option although relatively untested at the top level in the position because he was most often required to play fullback earlier in his career.
Another contender would be Curwin Bosch who was performing so well for the Sharks before Covid-19 shut down the competition.
Added to Pollard's injury concerns are locks Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager. Etzebeth has rib injuries while de Jager is battling a shoulder injury.