The Lions and Springboks have suffered a blow with Super Rugby star Elton Jantjies sidelined for at least three weeks due to a broken finger, placing him in doubt for the home Test series against Ireland.
The brilliant five-eighth will have surgery this week.
Jantjies has been in eye-catching form for the Johannesburg-based Lions, who lead Super Rugby's South Africa Two conference.
He was seen as a banker for the No.10 Springboks jersey in new coach Allister Coetzee's team in the three-match series against the Irish starting in Cape Town on June 11.
The 25-year-old Jantjies looks certain to miss the first Test against Ireland, but could be back for the matches in Johannesburg (June 18) and Port Elizabeth (June 25) if his recovery goes to plan.
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The Lions play the Bulls on Saturday (Sunday AEST) at Loftus Versfeld before Super Rugby breaks for international matches with the competition resuming in July for the final three rounds of the regular season.
