Schalk Burger has not played since injuring his knee in the opening round of the 2012 Super Rugby season. © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Schalk Burger

Teams: South Africa | Stormers

Stormers and South Africa flanker Schalk Burger will miss at least the first three weeks of the Super Rugby season because of a calf strain.

Burger, a Rugby World Cup winner with the Springboks six years ago, sustained a knee injury in the opening round of the 2012 southern hemisphere provincial championship and missed the entire season.

He picked up the strain during pre-season preparations and coach Allister Coetzee said the loose forward would not be considered for games against the Bulls and Sharks (both away) and title-holders Waikato Chiefs (home).

"If we were playing a semi-final, we may have risked Schalk," Coetzee told reporters in Cape Town. "But at this stage of the season I do not want to risk him."

"It is a simple injury, but Schalk does have a history of strains and I would like him to work on strengthening that calf, Coetzee added. "We have a bye after playing Chiefs and that will be the time to assess when he can return."

Injured centre Juan de Jongh and lock Eben Etzebeth also miss the clash with the Bulls in Pretoria Friday and centre Jean de Villiers continues as stand-in skipper for Burger.