Cardiff have suffered a hefty blow after four frontline players were forced to fly home from South Africa after picking up injuries.
Welsh internationals Owen Lane and Shane Lewis-Hughes both suffered injuries which will keep them out for at least a month. Aled Summerhill and Rey Lee-Lo will also return to Wales early after both departing early in the Blue and Blacks' defeat to the Lions on Sunday with head injuries.
Cardiff have opted not to call in any reinforcements, with the option of bringing over unused Wales squad members James Ratti and Rhys Carre not on the table. Instead, Dai Young is set to trust the remaining players in his squad - meaning Theo Cabango and Jacob Beetham could feature against the Stormers this weekend in what would be their first United Rugby Championship appearances.
"We have got four of the players flying home today," said head coach Young. "They are two significant injuries in Shane and Owen and both will be out for at least a month.
"Injuries happen, they are both tough guys and will get back as soon as possible. Owen has damaged his shoulder, we are hoping the extent of it is not as bad and it's only three to four weeks but it is still significant.
"He was disappointed not to be in Wales squad and he was somebody who was determined to push his case. Shane had a nasty rib injury, fractured some ribs and probably a minimum of six weeks.
"It is a nasty injury, Shane was just coming into a bit of form because he had been out for a while. The so-called back-row curse has happened again. People keep telling me we have far too many back rowers and how are you going to pick them all but we never to seem to have everybody available.
"Rey and Aled were permanently replaced on the day. They are ok now and feeling fine but there is no point them hanging around here because they were not going to be available this weekend.
"It is better to get them home, settled into their families and start the return to play protocols."
When asked about the possibility of bringing No. 8 Ratti and prop Carre out to South Africa after they weren't included in the matchday squad for Wales' final Six Nations match, Young admitted that conversations had already taken place and they wouldn't be flying out.
And while he appreciated the job Pivac has to do with Wales, he also recognised the frustration for players in not getting regular rugby during a campaign.
"We did have that discussion with Wayne prior to coming out," added Young. "I'm surprised to see Ratti isn't involved if I'm honest. But it was talked about and that's why they released Ellis early.
"There's no chance of anyone coming the other way. We feel we have got enough available here to cover it. But certainly if we'd had the chance of them available, we'd have jumped at it. But we're focusing on what we've got here and we feel we've got enough to cover it.
"It's difficult. Wayne's got a job to do as well. We have to recognise that. I read a comment yesterday that there's three roles; starting, on the bench and, if it's neither of them, then preparing the team.
"You've got to be mindful that Wayne has a job to do. It's a difficult place for a player to spend a whole campaign there and not get any rugby. It's as if you've put all the hard work in and got no reward.
"Many a player has done it though so hopefully when we get back home, they can join us and get a smile back on their face. I'm sure they'll be disappointed to go through the whole campaign with no rugby. But then they can get back in a Cardiff shirt and put their hands up for the summer tour."
With two back-three injuries, it raises the potential for one of - if not both - Cabango and Beetham to feature this weekend against the Stormers. With Cardiff's packed fixture list following a number of postponed matches, the likelihood is that the young pair of academy products, who both made their senior debuts against Toulouse last year, will be called upon in the coming weeks.
"The initial thing for us was to bring these guys, but not necessarily for the experience," said Young. "One or two injuries and we thought these guys would figure.
"We are really pleased with their development. They're playing weekly with the RFC which is important. They train with us during the week and then they get their rugby with the RFC.
"We can see week on week that they're developing and getting more experience playing at that level. They don't look out of place at all at our level.
"We are determined between now and the end of the season to give them some game time. The difficulty is it's never the right time, is it?
"All these games are important. "I wouldn't lose sleep with any of these guys playing. They'll do the job for us and kick on with more experience."
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