Cheetahs fullback Hennie Daniller could miss the rest of the Super Rugby season after breaking his thumb playing against the Cheetahs.

Daniller suffered a broken thumb playing in the Cheetahs 35-34 victory over the Waratahs on Saturday.

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has revealed that Daniller saw a specialist on Monday and the diagnosis is that he needs surgery.

The Cheetahs were hoping that he might be able to return after the June Internationals break in time for their clash against the Bulls in Pretoria on June the 30th.

However a more realistic target is understood to be their final regular season match against the Sharks in Durban on July the 14th.

"Hennie will be operated on and will be in a race against time to be ready for the Sharks clash," Drotske told Volksblad.

The Cheetahs are unlikely to rush Daniller back into Super rugby as he will be needed later in the season for the Currie Cup.

Last week's double try scoring wing Willie le Roux is most likely to cover Daniller's place at fullback.