Springbok flank Corne Krige has been ruled out of the Tri-Nations Test against the All Blacks in Cape Town on Saturday after suffering a recurrence of an upper-thigh injury.

The Western Province captain's now will have to wait another year to realise his dream of playing a Test at his beloved home ground. Krige is the only specialist openside flanker in the squad and he was a certainty to start against the All Blacks.

Springbok spokesman Mark Keohane said on Monday that they would not call up a replacement after a specialist ruled that Krige needed to rest a re-injured quadriceps injury. Keohane could not say how long Krige would be out for, with the flanker set to see another specialist on Tuesday.

Krige's withdrawal will come as a massive setback to the Boks as he is without peer in the country as a ball winner on the ground. His ability to slow down opposition ball on the ground will be missed against the All Blacks, who rely on quick phase ball to set up attacking play by their lethal backs.

On Monday, before Krige went for the scan, coach Harry Viljoen was convinced that the injury was not serious.

Former Springbok captain Andre Vos had been training in Krige's place after the Stormers flank broke down last week and is almost certain to start. Vos played at flank in South Africa's last Test, against Italy in Port Elizabeth, after Bob Skinstad took over the captaincy role and the No 8 position.

Young Lions' loose-forward Johann van Niekerk will probably start on the bench. There is still no call-up for Free State star Rassie Erasmus.

Erasmus was inexplicably dropped from the 26-man squad named two weeks ago and can still not find a way into the team. According to all reports he played well in the Cheetahs' first Currie Cup game of the season, on Friday night against the Griffons.

Viljoen will name his starting line-up on Wednesday, but running combinations in training indicate that he could start with up to eight Stormers players despite the fact that the Sharks and the Cats reached the Super 12 semifinal earlier this season.

The coach on Monday explained this by saying that Super 12 and Test rugby are two completely different entities.

South Africa (probable): Percy Montgomery, Breyton Paulse, Marius Joubert, Robbie Fleck, Dean Hall, Butch James, Joost van der Westhuizen, Bob Skinstad (capt), Andre Venter, Andre Vos, Mark Andrews, Victor Matfield, Cobus Visagie, Lukas van Biljon, Robbie Kempson.