Springbok prop Frans Malherbe is expected to be in selection contention for the Stormers’ crucial clash against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.

Robbie Fleck’s side has battled with injuries this season, but have been boosted by the availability of a number of players.

Malherbe, who has been struggling with a neck injury, as well as Dan Kriel, JJ Engelbrecht and Dewaldt Duvenage are all likely to be available for the match against the Sharks.

‘Jean-Luc du Plessis needs a week with John Dobson obviously, but we would like to think that JJ Engelbrecht, Dan Kriel and Duvies [Dewaldt Duvenage] will be back, so it is certainly a good time to welcome back a few people. We have been a bit short on numbers at times,’ Stormers assistant Paul Feeney said.

‘Frans [Malherbe] is good to go, so we are certainly in a better spot on that side of things than where we were two weeks ago.’

Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images