The Vodacom Stormers suffered a major setback when it was announced on Monday that captain Schalk Burger will miss Friday evening’s Vodacom Super 14 match against the Brumbies at Newlands

Burger cried off the pitch in the first half of the past Saturday’s victory over the Waratahs at Newlands. Pieter Louw took his place and seems to be the suitable candidate to start on Friday.

Pieter Myburgh will get his chance on the substitutes’ bench. Coach Allister Coetzee on Monday confirmed at the Stormers training session that big lock Andries Bekker will take over the leadership duties in Burger’s absence.

Bekker led the team on Saturday and Coetzee lauded him afterwards.

Coetzee, who earlier said he is in favour of continuity and will not make changes for the sake of it, said he wants to retain the rest of the 22-man squad.