De Villiers suffered a groin injury early in the side's match against the Hurricanes last Saturday night and left the field.
The midfield back was still feeling a touch uncomfortable with the injury and appears an unlikely starter on Friday.
It will be a big loss as de Villiers, the South African player of the year in 2008, is a key player in the Stormers backline.
It has been a nightmare tour for the Stormers, which had started the season tipped to go far in the competition under youthful coach and former Springboks captain Rassie Erasmus.
The side has not won one game on tour, although its lose to the Hurricanes, by 34-11, was the only one of its four tour matches so far where it has lost by more than seven points.
The Stormers sit 12th on the table, on 15 points, having won only two games, but having secured seven bonus points.
University of Cape Town utility back Tiger Bax has flown out from South Africa and will join up with the side.
Big Springbok lock Andries Bekker joined up with the team last week from South Africa but did not play against the Hurricanes, after a toe injury kept him out of the original touring party.
He should be available this week, although fellow lock Adriaan Fondse has returned to South Africa because of a wrist injury suffered against the Hurricanes.
The Stormers are basing themselves in Wellington during the week, and are only flying south tomorrow afternoon, with a short run on Carisbrook tomorrow night.
South African sides must have an aversion to Dunedin, as the Cheetahs last month spent little time in Dunedin, basing themselves in Auckland before flying down the day before the game.
The Stormers, like the Cheetahs before them, will begin the flight back to South Africa the morning after the game.
Looking through the Stormers side, it is somewhat puzzling why they are not further up the table.
They have quality players, such as loose forwards Schalk Burger and Luke Watson, halfback Ricky Januarie, and fullback Conrad Jantjes.
But they have made some costly mistakes and have butchered some crucial try-scoring opportunities.
The Highlanders, sitting in 10th place, are enjoying a better run on the injury front, with all players set to be available when the team is named today.
The side has been boosted by captain Jimmy Cowan getting no extra penalty after his sending off against the Blues, and Cowan should have an extra spring in his step given that the judicial officer, Bruce Squire QC, more or less said referee Stuart Dickinson got it wrong.
But Cowan will have to be at his diplomatic best on Friday night, with Australian referee Matt Goddard in charge.
Goddard handed out five yellow cards and a red card in the match between the Bulls and the Hurricanes last month.
Though he may be loath to make changes at this crunch time of the year, Highlanders coach Glenn Moore may look to give lock Hayden Triggs a start, along with prop Chris King, while winger Fetu'u Vainikolo is struggling for form, and may be replaced by Kendrick Lynn.
