THE Waratahs’ chances of qualifying for this year’s Super Rugby finals have taken a hit with No 8 Jed Holloway ruled out of action for four months.

The 23-year-old backrower re-injured his shoulder in his return match against the Crusaders last Friday night and will have surgery on Thursday which is expected to keep him on the sidelines for up to four months.

Holloway had been expected to come into consideration for Michael Cheika’s Wallabies squad to play England in June after a strong start to the season.

The No 8 made history for the Waratahs earlier this year when he became the first substitute to score a hat-trick of tries during his side’s home loss to the Highlanders in round four.

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Jed Holloway will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. Source: Getty Images

Experienced Wallaby Wycliff Palu has been called into the starting line-up to replace Holloway for this Friday’s season-defining match against the Chiefs in Sydney.

Promising flanker Jack Dempsey is fit again and will come off the bench.

The Chiefs, meanwhile, have also lost their No 8, Michael Leitch, who will miss up to two months with a dislocated thumb.

WARATAHS v CHIEFS in Sydney, Friday 7.45pm AEST

WARATAHS (15-1): Andrew Kellaway, Matt Carraro, Israel Folau, Rob Horne, Zac Guildford, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps, Wycliff Palu, Michael Hooper (c), Dean Mumm, Will Skelton, Dave Dennis, Tom Robertson, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Paddy Ryan

Reserves: Hugh Roach, Jeremy Tilse, Angus Ta’avao, Sam Lousi, Jack Dempsey, Matt Lucas, David Horwitz, Reece Robinson

CHIEFS (15-1): Damian McKenzie, Toni Pulu, Seta Tamanivalu, Anton Lienert-Brown, James Lowe, Aaron Cruden (co-captain), Brad Weber, Tom Sanders, Sam Cane (co-captain), Taleni Seu, Brodie Retallick, Dominic Bird, Hiroshi Yamashita, Nathan Harris, Mitchell Graham

Reserves: Hika Elliot, Kane Hames, Siegfried Fisi’ihoi, Michael Allardice, Lachlan Boshier, Kayne Hammington, Andrew Horrell, Sam Vaka

Referee: Jaco Peyper (RSA)