Bulls flyhalf Handré Pollard injured his right ankle during training on Thursday morning and is expected to be out of action for eight to 10 weeks.
The 23-year-old saw a specialist on Thursday afternoon regarding surgical procedure.
Pollard missed the entire 2016 season due to knee and shoulder injuries.
He has struggled to find form in Super Rugby this season, and relinquished the Bulls captaincy when Adriaan Strauss returned from injury.
Tian Schoeman is now set to start at flyhalf for the Bulls against the Cheetahs at Loftus on Saturday.
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