The Bulls' team announcement for their United Rugby Championship (URC) clash against the Ospreys was conducted to the not-so background noise of fighter jets flying overhead.
When the cacophony had died down, the team selected by director of rugby Jake White was predictably missing its top gun at flyhalf, Johan Goosen, thanks to his three-week ban for the dangerous tackle on Munster scrumhalf Craig Casey which got him sent off last Saturday.
Not having the former child prodigy - their "Maverick", if you will - calling the shots from flyhalf exposes one of the few areas where the Bulls lack for depth in a squad that is 50-odd players strong.