Chiefs first-five eighth Mike Delany will be out of rugby for up to six months after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in last Friday's Super 14 rugby match against the Stormers in Hamilton.
Delany fractured his glenoid - the socket of the shoulder joint - and will have surgery on his right shoulder this Friday in Hamilton.
Chiefs physiotherapist Dennis Shepherd it was a "significant impact injury".
"Such an injury has to be surgically repaired to get a good outcome. Currently the fracture is displaced. The surgery will aim to reduce the displacement and fix the bone," he said.
Chiefs winger Lelia Masaga has been ruled out of rugby for the next three to six weeks due to a tear to his lateral meniscus of his right knee. He will undergo an arthroscopy to repair his injury in Hamilton on Friday.
The Chiefs' season has gone from bad to worse: centre Richard Kahui will also have a shoulder injury monitored this week as the 10th-placed Chiefs prepare to face the Cheetahs in Hamilton on Friday.
But there was some positive news for coach Ian Foster who hoped to welcome back All Blacks winger Sitiveni Sivivatu from a knee injury.
"He's trained well today. The last three or four days he's come through well, so he's all set to go. So we've lost two and got one back," Foster told NewstalkZB.
Lock Kevin O'Neill (achilles tendon) could also be fit to play this week, although Foster said it may only be off the bench.
