Van der Linde sustained a broken leg last week when attempting to tackle Gavin Passens during a practice session with the Cheetahs.

The front-row forward told newspaper Rapport he was planning to make his return in the Tri-Nations tournament later in the summer.

We fell badly and both our weight was on my leg, Van der Linde said. The leg is broken between the knee and ankle.

The doctor straightaway put the leg in a splint, which Ill have to wear for four to six weeks. It wasnt necessary to put it in a plaster cast.

After the splint is removed, I will have to wait another two weeks before I can start training again, so it could be another 12 weeks in total before I start playing again.

Van der Linde hopes to keep himself fit in the gym and be ready for the start of the Springboks Tri-Nations campaign against Australia in Brisbane on July 15.