• Two Knights players have tested positive for Covid-19 on the eve of the franchise's return to training.
  
• One of the players are understood to be one of the franchise's six new recruits, the majority of them from Covid-19 hotspots the Western Cape and Gauteng.
  
• Training will adhere to strict safety protocols.

The Knights won't be at full strength for the resumption of training on Monday after two unnamed players tested positive for Covid-19 and have been isolated from the rest of the group.

A high-ranking representative of the franchise confirmed the news to Sport24.

It is understood that one of the afflicted players is one of the six new recruits for the coming season.

The majority of the Knights' fresh acquisitions come from the Western Cape and Gauteng, two of South Africa's provinces hardest hit by the virus.

As is the case with most sporting codes currently, the team's training sessions will adhere to strict safety protocols.

Only four players will be present at any given training session - two in the indoor nets and two in the outfield.

Cricket South Africa, who previously revealed that seven individuals had tested positive during a first round of testing, have earmarked a 1 November date for the start of the new domestic season.

The news follows hot on the heels of confirmation that a Cheetahs loose forward has also returned a positive test result.

He hasn't been in contact with any of his team-mates.

- Compiled by Heinz Schenk