STORMERS captain Schalk Burger has been ruled out of Friday's Vodacom Super 14 clash against the Brumbies at Newlands in Cape Town.

This was confirmed by Stormers media officer Gavin Lewis after the announcement of the team at their training ground in Bellville yesterday.

Flank Burger had to leave the field early in the first half of their crucial win over Australia's Waratahs at the weekend after injuring a hamstring.

Pieter Louw, who replaced Burger last week, will be in the starting XV this week after producing a spectacular performance. Lock Andries Bekker will take over the captaincy.

"It is a great blow to lose Schalk but we have capable players who are eager to keep their unbeaten record intact out of two games in this competition this year," Lewis said.

The Brumbies are still licking their wounds after being defeated 50-32 by defending champions the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.

The Stormers squad: Joe Pietersen, Gio Aplon, Jaque Fourie, Juan de Jongh, Bryan Habana, Peter Grant, Ricky Januarie, Duane Vermeulen, Francois Louw, Louw, Bekker (captain), De Kock Steenkamp, Brok Harris, Tiaan Liebenberg, JC Kritzinger.