Kimlin will meet with doctors and visit a neurosurgeon on Wednesday to assess the nerve damage in his right shoulder.

The injury already forced a premature end to the rising forward's international campaign and the 24-year-old said he was frustrated at not knowing how long he would be out of action for.

The Brumbies begin their bid to return to Super rugby supremacy when they play the Western Force in Perth on February12.

If Kimlin has surgery he is unlikely to play until April.

''It looked like it was coming along good, but it's a bit of a setback now,'' Kimlin said.

''I've still got to see what the extent of it is and hopefully it won't be anything long term.

''The nerve hasn't grown back as much as we would have liked ... I honestly don't know [if I'm going to be sidelined], it just depends what my progress is.

''It just feels unstable at the moment it doesn't feel right.''

Kimlin damaged the nerves in a tackle during a game against Perpignan on July31 as part of the Brumbies' four-game tour of France.

He had hoped to be back to full training now, but will be on limited duties when the Brumbies start their pre-season fitness regimen today.

Kimlin made his Test debut for the Wallabies in June and has set his sights on playing for Australia at the 2011 World Cup.

''I feel like it is all still heading in the right direction, this is just a little hiccup along the way,'' Kimlin said.

ACT skipper Stephen Hoiles will also have a limited involvement in training until after Christmas while he recovers from a hamstring injury.

The injury-hampered duo will add to a long list of absent stars from the Brumbies pre-season.

Eleven of the team's top players are travelling with the Wallabies on their European spring tour while Stirling Mortlock will not start training with the ACT until January.