Vodacom Bulls centre Dylan Sage faces an extended period on the sidelines after injuring his ankle during a warm-up match last weekend.

Sage was playing for the Bulls XV in their Rugby Challenge warm-up against the Sharks in Durban, a curtain-raiser for the Vodacom Super Rugby clash between the two sides last Friday.

The 28-year-old fractured his ankle and is expected to be out for three months. This would also put him in a race to be fully match fit for the Blitzboks’ Olympic Sevens campaign, which begins at the end of July.

Another serious injury concern for the Bulls is young prop Simpiwe Matainzima, who took a blow to the shoulder after coming off the bench against the Sharks and could be out for between four and six weeks.

Meanwhile, the Bulls were boosted by the return to training of loose forwards Marco van Staden and Muller Uys.

Van Staden, who has been struggling with a concussion, has started selective training sessions and is unlikely to be available this weekend.  Uys has started full training ahead of the derby against the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday.

Photo: Johan Rynners/Gallo Images