Lealiifano left the field late in the match before an initial prognosis revealed he had torn a posterior cruciate ligament.

Brumbies doctor Angus Bathgate described the injury as an ''eight to 12-week setback''. For Lealiifano that means, best case scenario, he could return for the Brumbies' semi-final, if the side progresses that far.

The 22-year-old will have more scans today to determine the true extent of the injury.

The Brumbies sick bay was overflowing after last night's bruising contest at Eden Park in Auckland.

George Smith missed the bulk of the second half with a shoulder injury, Matt Giteau injured the AC joint in his right shoulder late while Mark Chisholm also missed the end of the match.

Of those three, Smith is the most likely to require time on the sidelines but even that may not be necessary.

Bathgate, who had enjoyed a relatively quiet post-game workload prior to last night, said more would be known today.

''Yeah there's been a bit more work in the medical room tonight that we'd expected or hoped for,'' he said.

''It's unfortunate for Christian but PCL injuries generally aren't very promising so he's looking at eight to 12 [weeks].

''As for the others, we'll monitor them but I think they probably all should be right for next week.

''There were also some cuts and bruises but nothing out of the ordinary there.''

Last night's contest, which the Brumbies lost by five tries to three, was as physical as they had confronted in the first five weeks of the Super14.

Coach Andy Friend utilised his entire bench four of them by the 53rd minute and could have done with more substitutes.

Giteau's injury, which came with five minutes remaining when he tried to tackle Blues fullback Isaia Toeava, would generally have resulted in him spending time on the pine, but Friend had no subs left.

Lealiifano's absence for what will likely be the rest of the season presents Friend with a back line selection conundrum.

Lealiifano had been the side's most consistent back until last night, playing the first six matches of the season predominantly at inside centre.

His injury leaves Friend with some serious decision-making ahead.

For more on this story, see the print edition of today's Canberra Times.