Springbok management is sweating over the groin injury to Captain Warren Whiteley, ahead of the looming 2017 Rugby Championships.
South Africa play Argentina in Nelson Mandela Bay on the 19th of August in their opening match.
Team doctor, Konrad Von Hagen, said that Whitely is recovering from a groin injury, which he said is a difficult injury.
Whiteley did not play in the final test against France, withdrawing just hours before kick-off at Ellis Park.
Coach Allister Coetzee said at the time that Whiteley had been struggling with a bit of groin strain for a while.
Speaking on the Daron Mann Breakfast show on Algoa FM on Wednesday, Dr Von Hagen, said that they're grateful that his franchise the Lions have not been trying to push him to play if he's not ready, as the Lions prepare for their Super Rugby semi-final against the Hurricanes on Saturday.
"It's a groin and it's a very difficult injury. The Lions have been great in not trying to push him to play if he's not ready. So, at this stage the report from them is that they are going to rest him and hopefully for us he's improving all the time."
"We just holding thumbs that he'll be ready for the Rugby Championships but there are also plans in place if he's not ready. You know the thing with these kind of injuries is that if they are not 100% at this level you can't hide anything like, you will be found out and it will be detrimental to the team."
"So, Warren, on a weekly basis is chatting to his doctor and at this stage we are really holding thumbs that he'll be ready for the Championship," said Dr Von Hagen.
