Wellington - Waikato Chiefs skipper Mils Muliaina could miss the remainder of the Super 14 season after breaking his thumb during Saturday's bruising defeat of the Highlanders.
The All Blacks fullback, who suffered the injury in the first half and played out the game with his thumb bandaged, would have scans to gauge the extent of the injury but was expected to miss at least three weeks, a Chiefs spokesperson said on Sunday.
"Worst case would be a dislocation and break in a unusual place, which could mean 10 plus (weeks)," she said.
Muliaina's injury adds to a lengthy casualty list at the Chiefs, who have already lost hooker Aled de Malmanche, prop James McGougan and lock Kevin O'Neill to injury for the coming weeks as they battle to stay in semi-finals contention.
Flyhalf Stephen Donald is also a doubt to play the champion Bulls at home next weekend after suffering a heavy knock to the head.
The Chiefs, runners-up to the Bulls last year, ended a run of three losses with the 27-21 win over the Highlanders at Mount Maunganui but lie three points outside the top four in sixth place.