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Matfield a major concern for Bulls

The Bulls will get a number of Springbok back this week, but there is growing concern over the knee injury of veteran lock Victor Matfield.

Matfield will only know on Tuesday when he will play again.

He was originally listed as being 'rested' for the encounter with the Lions last week, but it has since emerged that the knee injury was the real problem.

It appears to be a major concern for the Bulls management.

The lock, who has a meniscal knee strain, will see knee specialist Daan du Plessis to determine how long he will be out of action.

Meanwhile Boks Flip van der Merwe and Arno Botha have returned to full training, following a pectoral and hamstring injury respectively.

Matfield a major concern for BullsBoth will be considered for Saturday's Super Rugby match against the Reds at Loftus Versfeld.

They will join the likes of Jan Serfontein and Handré Pollard, who missed last weekend's clash against the Lions.

Jesse Kriel (ribs), Burger Odendaal (arm), JJ Engelbrecht (pectoral), Trevor Nyakane (shoulder) and Jacques du Plessis (muscle spasm) all picked up light niggles on the weekend and sat out training Monday, team doctor Org Strauss said.

All of them will be back in action on Tuesday, as well as Basil Short, who recovered from concussion.

Akona Ndungane (broken hand, return on April 13 ), Pieter Labuschagne (shoulder, April 13), William Small-Smith (foot, April 20) and Travis Ismaiel (ribs, April 20) will return to action before the end of the month.

Pierre Schoeman (ACL, July 31), Bandise Maku (pectoral, July 31), Carlo Engelbrecht (ankle, five weeks), Werner Kruger (ankle, five weeks), Duncan Matthews (ACL, July 31), Ruan Steenkamp (PCL, July 31), Ryan Nell (ACL, August 31) are all on the long-term recovery list.

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