All Blacks fullback Mils Muliaina is expected to be sidelined from rugby for at least six weeks, regardless of whether he undergoes surgery, his Super 14 coach said today.
Chiefs coach Ian Foster has suffered some unkind blows this season, with his backline decimated by an array ofinjuries.
The situation deteriorated further with Muliaina's fractured left foot in yesterday's warm-up match for the Chiefs' development 15, sending another crack through the Chiefs squad.
Foster told NZPA the world-class Muliaina would have been a certainty to start next week against the Queensland Reds following his reconditioning program with the All Blacks, but was now resigned to losing him for the season.
Muliaina was being assessed by a specialist in Auckland today to determine if surgery was required, but despite whether a pin's inserted into the fractured metatarsal -- the bone that connects the toe to the ankle -- Foster said he would be out for at least six weeks.
"Regardless of whether he has surgery or not, it doesn't change the duration of the rehabilitation," Foster said.
"It does change the aggressiveness which you can rehab him, but whether they operate, it's going to be a minimum of four weeks, a maximum of eight, but a likelihood of six (weeks)."
The veteran of 47 test said the injury occurred when he went to change direction. The same match also saw fellow All Black Joe Rokocoko limp off the field with a rolled ankle.
In some positive news for Foster, All Blacks halfback Byron Kelleher and wing Sitiveni Sivivatu came through the match unscathed and should be available next week, but Muliaina's injury still deprived him of some much-needed firepower.
"Of course it's a big blow. He's the world's best fullback and can easily slot into the midfield, and with our injury toll, there's no question I would have played him in next week's game."
