The Chiefs will be without first-five Aaron Cruden for up to eight weeks after it was confirmed he broke his thumb in their Super Rugby draw with the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein Sunday morning.
After the match Cruden went to hospital for an x-ray which identified a fracture in his left thumb.
The Chiefs say he's expected to be out for six to eight weeks.
The Chiefs are now on their way back to New Zealand and host the Melbourne Rebels in Hamilton on Saturday.
The first All Blacks Test against England is in nine weeks.