If the All Blacks return to action this year it will be without Chiefs forward Atu Moli, who is set to undergo surgery to rectify a chronic hip dysfunction.
The four-Test loosehead prop won’t play in 2020 after undergoing an operation on both hips.
The 24-year-old former New Zealand age group captain played at last year’s World Cup in Japan and is regarded as a long-term All Blacks prospect.
It is a blow for the injury-hit Chiefs before their opening match of the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition against the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday.
They are without skipper and newly-anointed All Blacks captain Sam Cane (back) for at least the first round.
Test hooker Nathan Harris (shoulder), winger Sam McNicol (ankle) and locks Michael Allardice (shoulder) and Laghlan McWhannell (knee) are all confirmed as out for the season.
Taranaki lock Tupou Vaa’i has been brought into the squad as cover.
Powerhouse All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick was ruled out as a replacement option as he is on a sabbatical break this year, falling between two seasons in Japan.