The Sharks will bring a weakened Super Rugby squad to New Zealand after Springboks prop Tendai Mtawarira was added to their growing injury list.

Mtawarira suffered a calf injury during the 12-6 loss to the Cheetahs which take a month to repair, ruling him out of Australasian tour matches against the Chiefs, Highlanders, Reds and Force.

Also missing the tour with injury are backs Lwazi Mvovo (hand), Tim Whitehead (hand), Butch James (knee), Louis Ludik (shoulder) and forwards Bismarck du Plessis (knee), Jacques Botes (hand) and Willem Alberts (shoulder).

Lions loan player Andries Coetzee went off with a suspected dislocated shoulder against the Cheetahs, ruling him out of the replay of last year’s final against the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday.

Two other players are on loan for the tour – flanker Derick Minnie and centre Piet Lindeque.

No.8 Ryan Kankowski has been dropped because of poor form while winger JP Pietersen has been included in the tour squad despite an ankle concern.

Two straight losses has seen last year’s runners-up fall to third in the South African conference and seventh overall.