Siya Kolisi and Ox Nche are edging towards availability for the Springboks' Rugby's Greatest Rivalry opener against the All Blacks on Saturday, after both came through Tuesday's training session without incident.
Assistant coach Felix Jones confirmed the positive signs. "Both of them are tracking pretty good. There have been no flags or issues from what we've seen today in training. We still have another session during the week, but there's been nothing majorly negative coming out of either of their recovery plans."
Erasmus had identified the pair as the squad's only fitness concerns heading into the week. "I wouldn't say Siya and Ox are still injured; it's niggles. If they get through today, they might be good for us," the head coach said on Monday.
Nche has been sidelined since leaving the Nations Championship Test against England after just eight minutes, while Kolisi missed the entire Nations Championship campaign with hamstring trouble before going off 24 minutes into the 17-10 win over Argentina on his return.
The Springboks will announce their 23-man squad on Thursday rather than the customary earlier release, a decision Erasmus framed around competitive strategy. "The announcement only being on Thursday is to respect New Zealand and knowing how tough this one is going to be. For this one specifically, we think the less time they have to prepare for our team, the better. So, it's not an arrogance thing; it's respect."
With the scrum-half race still open among Grant Williams, Morne van den Berg, Cobus Reinach and Herschel Jantjies, Williams was measured about the uncertainty. "We have to wait until Thursday for the team announcement. If I get the honour to play on Saturday, my job will be to make sure the team goes forward — I won't be focused on my position or who's opposite me."