The ambitious Western Province team was dealt a body blow with the news that star lock Adriaan Fondse was ruled out of the top-of-the-table clash with the Sharks as the result of a knee injury.

The table-topping Sharks host second-placed WP in Durban on Saturday at the start of the second half of the season.

Fondse will see a specialist on Monday to determine the exact extent of the injury, but initial prognoses has ruled him out of this week's clash.

Fondse left the field just after half-time of last Saturday's 25-20 win over the Lions at Newlands.

He only recently returned to the playing field after a long lay-off due to a wrist injury sustained during the Super 14.

However, Province have quality back-up in Anton van Zyl and Chris Jack, who came on to play a crucial role in securing the win against the Lions when Fondse left the field at the weekend.

Back-up scrumhalf Conrad Hoffmann also remains on the doubtful list for the trip to Durban, after he was withdrawn from the match 22 to face the Lions at a late stage as a result of a hamstring niggle.

Although the injury is not listed as serious, the nature of hamstring problems mean that the WP coaching staff won't know till later in the week if the player will be fit.

Province remained on course for a semifinal berth after completing the first half of the Currie Cup competition by holding out in the face of a strong second-half fightback from the Lions.

WP led 18-8 at half-time and should have won more convincingly.

That they failed to claim the bonus point for four tries is entirely their own fault.

They created numerous scoring chances, but poor option-taking and execution cost them dearly.

They allowed the Lions to dictate the game for most of the second half, even allowing them to come within one point of the lead at one stage.