Bulls lock Wilhelm Steenkamp was suspended for two weeks on Tuesday for a headbutt and will miss the last round of regular-season games in Super Rugby and possibly a playoff if his Pretoria team slip up and do not qualify automatically for the semi-finals.

Steenkamp was found guilty by SANZAR of striking Sharks flyhalf Butch James with his head at a ruck in the second half of the Bulls’ 20-19 win at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. James also was banned for four weeks for a dangerous tackle later in the match.

Steenkamp, who is not a regular starter for the table-topping Bulls, cannot play again until after July 20. He will miss the game against the Stormers this weekend and the first round of the playoffs if the Bulls don’t finish in the top two of the overall standings, which would qualify the three-time champions for a home semi on July 26 or 27.

The Bulls lead Super Rugby ahead of the last-round games and can seal the home semi-final with victory over the Stormers in Cape Town.

A loss with no points combined with a win for New Zealand’s Chiefs and a bonus-point win for the Brumbies would drop the Bulls to third and into the first round of knockout games.

Along with Steenkamp, the Bulls also will be without injured Springboks Jan Serfontein, Pierre Spies and Arno Botha for the Stormers as they face late-season pressure from their South African rivals after having only just overcome a fierce challenge from the Sharks.