Heinrich Brüssow will have a toe operation that will rule him out of the Cheetahs' first six Super Rugby matches.

According to Die Burger, the 27-year-old flank sustained the injury while playing for Japanese club Docomo Red Hurricanes. He will only be available to Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské after their overseas tour.

'It is a huge blow to lose Hein for the beginning of the season. He is a world-class player,' Drotské said. 'Fortunately, we have depth at loose forward.'

Other Cheetahs loose forwards include Lappies Labuschagne, Philip van der Walt, Frans Viljoen, Boom Prinsloo and Jean Cook.

Meanwhile, Drotské has named his two teams for the warm-up matches against Shimlas (8am) and Griquas (10am) on Friday at Free State University.

Cheetahs (vs Shimlas) – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Rayno Benjamin, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Kevin Luiters, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Lappies Labuschagné, 6 Boom Prinsloo, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Subs: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Ligtoring Landman, 19 Andries Ferreira, 20 Oupa Mohoje, 21 Inus Kritzinger, 22 Riaan Smit, 23 Cornal Hendricks, 24 Shane Gates.

Cheetahs (vs Griquas) – 15 Shane Gates, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Piet Lindeque, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Norman Nelson, 10 Riaan Smit, 9 Inus Kritzinger, 8 Hilton Lobberts, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Rynier Bernardo, 5 Ligtoring Landman, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Rossouw de Klerk, ­2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Caylib Oosthuizen.
Subs: 16 AJ le Roux, 17 Max van Dyk, 18 Chris Ehlers, 19 Waltie Vermeulen, 20 Martin Sithole, 21 Kevin Luiters, 22 Elgar Watts, 23 Rayno Benjamin, 24 Hennie Daniller.

Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images