Cape Town - The Cheetahs are likely to keep Springbok flank Heinrich Brüssow on the sidelines for at least another week.

The men from Bloemfontein face the defending champion Chiefs in Hamilton this weekend, but according to the Volksblad website, Brüssow will likely only be ready for their next match against the Highlanders on March 9.

Brüssow has been out of action for the last five months due to a shoulder injury and there was hoped he would be ready for the first game of their Australasian tour.

Coach Naka Drotské said all his loose forwards performed well in a losing cause against the Sharks last week, which means the coach can afford not to risk Brüssow on Saturday.

"Heinrich Brüssow will be 50/50 for the match against the Chiefs. He should definitely be ready against the Highlanders. We said before the Sharks game that if we remain injury-free and the loose forwards do well, then we won't use Heinrich against the Chiefs. We'll probably give him another week," said the coach.

Drotské was impressed with the physicality of loose forward Frans Viljoen against the Sharks, while No 8 Philip van der Walt and flank Lappies Labuschagné had solid games. Also, reserve No 8 Boom Prinsloo made a good impact in the second half when the Cheetahs fought back from 26-5 down to trail by only four points, before a late Pat Lambie penalty gave the visitors a 29-22 win.

The Cheetahs' clash against the Chiefs kicks off at 08:35 (SA time) on Saturday morning.