Sharks to make understrength start in Super Rugby

The Sharks will be forced to start their Super Rugby season with an understrength squad but will have most of the players who played against Toulon available to face the Cheetahs.

Springbok loose-forward Willem Alberts missed the trip to France and is only expected to start for the Sharks in the second or third round if he recovers from a hamstring injury he sustained in the pre-season.

Aside from Alberts the Sharks have three players who are still in Japan completing their commitments in the knock out stages.

Frans Steyn is looking trimmed down compared to last season but is still in Japan with JP Pietersen and Ryan Kankowski according to SuperSport.

Scrumhalf Cobus Reinach and flank Ettienne Oosthuizen who both left the field in Toulon are expected to play for the Sharks against the Cheetahs as well as Bok tighthead prop Jannie du Plessis.