Heinrich Brüssow will not play against the Sharks at Kings Park in Durban next Saturday.

The flanker arrived back in Bloemfontein this week after his Japanese club, the Docomo Red Hurricanes, failed to qualify for the All-Japan Championship.

While Brüssow was concussed in their last match, he will miss the Cheetahs' opening Vodacom Super Rugby fixture because he needs a break.

'He has played a lot of rugby of late, he left straight after Super Rugby to go to Japan and played in almost all of their games,' coach Naka Drotské told SuperSport.com. 'We've given him two weeks off, so he will play in our second game of the season [against the Blues in Bloemfontein on 27 February].'

Photo: Johan Pretorius/Gallo Images