New Zealand centre Anton Lienert-Brown will be out for around six months after undergoing shoulder surgery.
The midfielder was injured during the Chiefs' 25-0 Super Rugby Pacific defeat to the Blues on Saturday.
Lienert-Brown will go under the knife this week and is facing a long spell on the sidelines.
The Chiefs said: "It has been confirmed that Anton will require surgery on his shoulder that was injured last Saturday. He is expected to return to rugby after approximately 6 months.
"The Chiefs Rugby Club wish Anton all the best for a speedy recovery."
Lienert-Brown posted on Instagram: "Shoulder is going to need a bit more work than I was hoping, going under the knife this week which will put me out for 6 months.
"A bump in the road, but the journey continues. I'll be back. Appreciate all the support."
Lienert-Brown damaged the same shoulder during New Zealand's defeat to Ireland in Dublin last November, ruling him out of a loss to France.
