New Zealand's Jerome Kaino facing race against time to be fit for British and Irish Lions tour

The blindside flanker, who has played 77 times for New Zealand and won two World Cups, suffered the injury in Super Rugby action for the Auckland Blues two weeks ago

Jerome Kaino requires surgery after suffering the injury two weeks ago (Getty)

The All Blacks' Jerome Kaino is facing a race against time to be fit to play the British and Irish Lions in late June and early July after electing to have surgery on a meniscus tear in his knee.

The blindside flanker, who has played 77 times for New Zealand and won two World Cups, suffered the injury in Super Rugby action for the Auckland Blues two weeks ago and will have surgery on Friday.

Blues assistant coach Steve Jackson said the operation would sideline the 34-year-old for four to six weeks but was confident he would have time to prove his fitness before the first test against the Lions on June 24.

"He was feeling it and it was locking up on him," he said."Potentially he could have played but it was causing discomfort and if it locked up during game time we would have had to replace him anyway.

"He'll get his feet up and normally you come back quick from those sorts of operations. I'm pretty sure he'll be fine for the Lions tour."

Reuters