The Chiefs will travel to Dunedin for their Super Rugby qualifier against the Highlanders next week without halfback Augustine Pulu, out after fracturing his forearm in Saturday’s 21-13 loss to the Hurricanes.

Pulu fractured his right forearm radius late in the New Plymouth match, and underwent surgery earlier on Sunday to insert a plate.

He is expected to need 8-10 weeks to recover, leaving a question mark over his availability for the rugby World Cup which begins in England on September 18.