Wiehan Hay has been ruled out for three weeks after suffering an AC joint injury in the loss to Griquas last weekend.

Hay lasted just 35 minutes on his debut before being replaced by Marco Wentzel during the narrow 21-18 loss. He will join fellow second rower JC Astle on the sidelines, which will further test the Sharks' strength-in-depth in that position.

His injury was the only one to come out of Saturday's disappointing defeat to the previously winless Griquas at Kings Park. The Sharks currently find themselves in fourth position on the overall log, although with trips to Bloemfontein and Pretoria in the next fortnight, their semi-final ambitions are looking increasingly precarious.

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