Full-back Ben Smith will miss the Highlanders' two-match trip to South Africa after suffering an ankle injury during their victory over the Stormers on Friday.
The Highlanders skipper will miss Super Rugby fixtures against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, as well as the Bulls in Pretoria.
Smith will hope to be fit for the game against Western Force in Perth on May 20.
His absence opens the door for Richard Buckman, who replaced Smith at full-back earlier in the season when he was absent with concussion.
Smith, who was a member of the New Zealand team which lifted the World Cup in 2015, will be desperate to prove his fitness ahead of the three-Test summer series against the British and Irish Lions which starts on June 17.