Chiefs midfield back Richard Kahui has re-injured his shoulder, throwing the remainder of his involvement in their Super Rugby title defence into doubt.

Kahui suffered damage during an innocuous training activity in Hamilton on Tuesday and left the field in obvious pain.

The 27-year-old is likely to be ruled out of Friday’s match against the Melbourne Rebels in Melbourne, with medical staff anxious to assess the injury, according to coach Dave Rennie.

“(It’s) not very good … the medics are referring him to have another scan, he’s got pain in his shoulder, the one that was operated on,” Rennie told journalists.

Kahui has undergone four shoulder reconstructions over the past six years, the most recent late last year which curtailed his start to this season.

He played four games before leaving the field midway through their loss to the Waratahs in Sydney with a hamstring strain which also ruled him out of last week’s 37-29 win over the Sharks.

Kahui has signed to begin a Japanese club contract later this year. But All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said he would still strongly consider the 16-Test veteran for the June home internationals against France.