Bulls enforcer Bakkies Botha looks likely to miss most of the Super 14 as he is making slow progress with his recovery from an Achilles tendon injury.
Botha will not reach fitness in time for this weekend's clash against the Highlanders in Pretoria this week or the Hurricanes at Loftus Versfeld the following week.
In addition he will not make the Bulls' trip to Australia and New Zealand where they play the Blues and Chiefs on successive weekends in weeks eight and nine.
He may however return to face the Crusaders in Pretoria on the penultimate week of scheduled matches as he is now expected to be back in the middle of April.
"We're not considering Bakkies for the tour. He will stay home and carry on with the rehab programme he's on," Bulls doctor Org Straus told local media.
The Bulls should have Pierre Spies back for this weekend's match against the Highlanders but centre Jaco Pretorius is still struggling with a a quadricep injury.
Pretorius is expected to tour with the Bulls.
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