Raffi Quirke admits he is missing Faf de Klerk - but may well have to get used to the South African not being around for a while.
The young Sale scrum-half has been handed his chance to show just why he is one of the most highly-rated English No.9s in the game during the opening few weeks of the Gallagher Premiership with the World Cup winner away on international duty.
However, the Sharks are anxiously waiting for the results of a scan on a hip flexor injury De Klerk initially suffered during the Lions series.
If it needs surgery, he could be out for months. And with Will Cliff also injured, that potentially puts 20-year-old Quirke in line for a long run in the side.
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