The Wallabies playmaker Berrick Barnes will have surgery on a dislocated thumb and miss up to six weeks of Super Rugby action for the New South Wales Waratahs.
Barnes hurt the thumb in a tackle during the Waratahs' home loss to the Cheetahs on Friday, having just come back into the side after recovering from a knee injury.
Barnes's injury adds to the Sydney-based outfit's woes, with their hopes of making the playoffs already precarious after starting the season 1-3 under new coach Michael Cheika.
The Waratahs are also likely to be without Australia hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau (hamstring) and Wallabies number eight Wycliff Palu (ankle) for their home match against the Blues on Sunday.
