The Chiefs' injury crisis is showing no signs of improving, with several key players still unavailable to play this weekend.
Lock Dominic Bird is consulting a specialist and may undergo season‑ending shoulder surgery while All Black Charlie Ngatai remains sidelined for at least another two weeks due to his knee injury.
Shaun Stevenson could also go under the knife and be out for up to five weeks.
Yet the biggest problem remains in the front row, with prop Atu Moli ruled out for the rest of the season and Nepo Laulala missing for up to three months.
Test prop Kane Hames, suffering from concussion symptoms, could also miss this week's clash with the Bulls in Hamilton.
The Chiefs will play the Bulls at 6.35pm Friday.
In other matches, the Highlanders will play the Crusaders at 6.35pm Saturday while the Brumbies will play the Sharks at 8.45pm Saturday.
The Stormers meet the Blues at 1.05am Sunday, the Lions meet the Sunwolves at 3.15am Sunday, the Reds play the Jaguares at 9.40am Sunday while the Waratahs play the Rebels at 5.05pm Sunday.
