Nizaam Carr could miss the Stormers' opening Vodacom Super Rugby warm-up game after a mystery virus resulted in a visit to hospital this week.
Carr had only recently returned to Stormers training after a month-long break following the Springbok end-of-year tour, but after completing training on Monday, the flank started to feel sick and was taken to hospital later that evening suffering with aching body pains, severe headaches and a high fever.
Following a number of blood and other tests, however, Carr was given the all-clear. The Stormers confirmed Carr's hospital visit on their website for 'precautionary reasons after contracting a viral infection'.
Siya Kolisi was another who sat out Thursday's practice, and will remain sidelined until Monday with a tight hamstring as a precautionary measure.
The Cape franchise will play three warm-up matches against the SWD Eagles in George (24 January), Cheetahs in Cape Town (30 January) and Boland Kavaliers in Wellington (7 February) before their Super Rugby campaign opens on 14 February.
Vermeulen named Stormers captain
Photo: Shaun Roy/Gallo Images