The Scotland captain and fulcrum of the Sale back row is still recovering from `tidy-up' operations in the summer on his knee and shoulder which forced him to miss Scotland's summer tour to Argentina.
The Aberdonian's injury problems were one of the factors behind the Sharks appointing Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe as their new captain in succession to the Scot.
Completing the international flavour, the Sharks will have two vice-captains this season with French talisman Sebastian Chabal and club stalwart Dean Schofield both backing up Lobbe, the Argentinian flanker.
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