A method is discussed to determine the hitherto unknown u-quark transversity distribution from a planned HERMES measurement of a single-spin asymmetry in semi-inclusive pion electroproduction off a transversely polarized target. Assuming u-quark dominance, the measurement yields the shapes of the transversity distribution and of the ratio of a polarized and the unpolarized u-quark fragmentation functions. The unknown relative normalization can be obtained by identifying the transversity distribution with the well-known helicity distribution at large x. The systematic uncertainty of the method is dominated by the assumption of u-quark dominance.

5 pages, 5 figures, revised version as will be published in EPJ C