The Vodacom Blue Bulls will be without former Springbok flank Deon Stegmann for the next four weeks of the Currie Cup as the result of a facial injury.

Stegmann fractured his cheekbone against Griquas last Friday, and on Monday the Bulls confirmed that he will be out of action for about a month.

The Blue Bulls are already without Arno Botha, who is recovering from a knee injury, but the loose forward should be back in two weeks' time.

However, the rest of the injury news was generally more positive for the Bulls, with scrumhalf Francois Hougaard expected to recover from a finger injury in time to play against Western Province this weekend.

Meanwhile, centre William Small-Smith needs to go through the necessary concussion protocols in order to be cleared to play. Both Hougaard and Small-Smith will undergo final fitness tests on Thursday.

Photo: Gerhard Steenkamp/Gallo Images