Stormers loosehead prop JD Moller has been ruled out for 12-16 weeks with a shoulder injury after he disolated it during the win over the Hurricanes on Saturday that propelled the South African side into play-off contention.

Moller will miss the rest of the Super 14 and the first couple of weeks of the Currie Cup season in a year where Western Province will be determined to end their long drought in the domestic competition.

It is a big blow for the Stormers in that Moller was playing outstanding rugby and was regarded as an example of the work ethic that has helped the Stormers to confound most pre-season predictions and become real contenders for the Super 14 trophy.

There is good news for the Stormers however, with Schalk Ferreira recovering from the injuries sustained in an off-season car accident and returning to action.

"Schalk was available this week already. Obviously the current guys are in form and are playing well and are match fit," said coach Rassie Erasmus.

"But he will definitely come into the mix. And then, Janro van Niekerk was with us in the pre-season (from the Boland) and Wikus Blaauw travelled with us on our overseas tour."

Those last two options are promising, but it is Ferreira who has the experience that the Stormers should be looking for.

The Stormers injury woes do not of course finish there. The side are waiting on news of whether Wing Tonderai Chavhanga will be out for the rest of the season. Chavhanga pulled up while setting off on a chase of his own kick-ahead in the first half and had to leave the field with a hamstring injury.

"You never know with hamstrings, it could be that he is out for the rest of the Super 14 or he could just be out for one or two weeks," said Erasmus.