Francois Venter is set to undergo an ankle operation that will rule him out of the start of the Cheetahs' Super Rugby campaign.

The ankle injury is believed to have flared up on the Boks' end-of-year tour, and with Venter now deciding to have an operation, it's expected that he will be out of action for three months. 

The Cheetahs will kick off their Super Rugby campaign against the Lions on 25 February.

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