Vodacom Bulls captain Duane Vermeulen will not feature in the upcoming domestic preparation series due to a knee injury.

According to Netwerk24, Bulls CEO Edgar Rathbone has confirmed that Vermeulen will be out for at least six weeks after opting to undergo surgery to clear his knee cartilage.

As a result, the 34-year-old will sit out the Bulls’ ‘Franchise Cup’ campaign, which is kick off sometime within the next two weeks.

But Rathbone was quick to explain that Vermeulen will be fit and ready in time for the start of the Rainbow Cup, which kicks off in April.

It’s expected that either Arno Botha or Trevor Nyakane will lead the Bulls in Vermeulen’s absence.

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Photo: Anton Geyser