Colin Slade’s horror run with injuries has continued, with the Highlanders five-eighth likely to be ruled out for the rest of the Super Rugby season with a broken leg.

Slade was stretchered off in the second half of the Highlanders’ 33-26 loss to the Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday night after buckling his left leg awkwardly in a tackle.

Clearly in pain, he was taken to Canberra Hospital where he will undergo surgery for a broken tibia – an injury Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph conceded was most likely season-ending.

“It seems to be a season-ending break, but I’m not a doctor,” Joseph told reporters after the match.

“It’s a pretty horrific injury.”

Slade, who had been enjoying a 100 per cent strike rate with the boot before being carried off against the Brumbies, had his World Cup campaign cut short last year with a groin tear.

“He’s had a real bad run, Colin,” said Joseph.

“The poor guy’s had two broken jaws, he’s had two abductor operations, he’s had a hernia operation and now his leg, all in the course of a year.

“I’m really feeling for him, more so him than the team really.”

But the Highlanders have more than their fair share of injury concerns to worry about, with Joseph confirming John Hardie would miss the rest of the season after an operation on his toe.

He joins Lima Sopoaga on the long-term injury list, while it could be as much as a six-week wait for Nick Crosswell, who strained his medial ligament against the Brumbies – just minutes after coming on from the bench.

“We don’t know the extent of that injury, but he’s reasonably sore,” Joseph said.

“It’s not a good sign anyway.”

All Blacks back-rower Adam Thomson was another significant omission from the Brumbies game with a neck strain, but Joseph played down the significance of their lengthy injury list.

“We’ve had some bad injuries, but every time you read the paper everyone’s having a bad run with injuries in Super Rugby.

“It doesn’t get any easier – every week you see how tough the competition is – we just have to soldier on.”

The Highlanders, who have slipped from first to fifth on the ladder, will be looking to rebound from their first loss when they host the Melbourne Rebels at home next Friday.