Western Province flyhalf Gary van Aswegen hobbled off the field with an injured knee just before the final whistle of his team's match against Griquas at Newlands on Saturday but the injury appears not to be a recurrence of the ligament damage which ruled him out of the Stormers' Super 15 campaign.

After goaling four penalties and two conversions in his team's 26-26 draw, Van Aswegen appeared in trouble as he was assisted off the field.

And with first-choice flyhalf Peter Grant playing in Japan, and Kurt Coleman not due back from injury for a fortnight, Sam Lane out until mid-September and Lionel Cronjé until the end of September, the fitness of Van Aswegen is crucial to Western Province's Currie Cup fortunes.

But Province head coach Allister Coetzee was upbeat after the match about Van Aswegen returning to the field soon.

"He hasn't injured his knee badly," said Coetzee.

"It's probably scar tissue. Fortunately the specialist was right there after the game and he says the tenderness is probably caused by scar tissue rather than ligament trouble again.

"Obviously he will be fully assessed on Monday and we'll get an accurate opinion then.

"But Gary is walking on the knee and is very positive."

Coetzee added that he had been very pleased by Van Aswegen's performance, especially considering he had not played a match since his injury during the Super 15.

He had played almost the full 80 minutes, Coetzee said, after playing very little rugby this year, and while there were a few aspects of his game which needed work, the coach believed he was a highly talented young flyhalf.

By Len Kaplan at Newlands