The Sharks will be without Springboks Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Jordan Hendrikse and Makazole Mapimpi for the away game against French club team Bordeaux Bègles in the Champions Cup on Sunday and possibly also the clash a week later against Cardiff in the United Rugby Championship.

John Plumtree, head coach of the Sharks, named a tour group of 28 players on Monday for the two matches.

Hendrikse, Koch and Mapimpi were in action against Toulouse in the Champions Cup last weekend and all suffered a concussion and cannot be considered for Sunday afternoon’s game in Bordeaux.

They will all be monitored throughout the week and could potentially still be eligible for the showdown with Cardiff.

Hendrikse’s injury means that Siya Masuku is the only specialist flyhalf in the group.

“A full-strength Sharks team would probably have made our game against Toulouse a little more made it interesting, but it is not a finger-pointing at the players that did play,” said Plumtree after Saturday’s 20-8 defeat to the defending champions at King’s Park.

“We currently have six or seven key players out and they would have make a massive difference.”

Etzebeth, center André Esterhuizen and full back Aphelele Fassi also missed the clash against Toulouse, with the latter two suffering long-term injuries.

But the Sharks got a boost with the return of three Springboks, Ntuthuko Mchunu (prop), Grant Williams (scrum-half) and Lukhanyo Am (centre), as well as James Venter (flank) and Eduan Keyter (wing).

The Durban side only need a bonus point to make sure of their place in the round of 16 but must do so against a strong Bordeaux Bègles side, who have already beaten Leicester Tigers (42-28), Ulster (40-19) and Exeter Chiefs (69-17).