The Cheetahs will be without Springbok lock Lood de Jager for between six and eight weeks due to an elbow injury.

De Jager left the field after just 10 minutes of the Cheetahs' opening match against the Sharks with a suspected broken elbow and while the good news is there isn't a bone fracture, the injury will keep him out of action for close to two months.

The news will be a massive blow to coach Naka Drotské, who highlighted the lack of depth in the tight-five as one of the problem areas during pre-season.

With the Cheetahs facing a bye this week, he will be given time to reshuffle his pack ahead of next weekend's match against the Blues in Bloemfontein.

The news of De Jager's injury will be tempered somewhat by the fact that the Cheetahs will welcome back Japanese-based flank Heinrich Brüssouw and centre Johann Sadie, along with Sevens Bok Rayno Benjamin for the match against the Blues.

Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images