The Southern Kings' most experienced hooker, Hannes Franklin, is unlikely to feature in his team's debut season in Super Rugby.

It was confirmed on Monday that Franklin’s knee surgery was a success.

However, the flipside is that he will be sidelined for at least four months, virtually ruling him out for the entire season.

Kings Director of Rugby, Alan Solomons, said that Franklin - who went in for surgery last Thursday (January 17) after tearing his medial collateral ligament during practice - was recovering well.

"The surgeon was able to reattach the torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee and was also able to repair a slight tear in the meniscus," Solomons said.

"The surgery went well and the overall procedure has given us a good result."

Solomons said Franklin would be in a leg brace for the next six to eight weeks, before he could begin fitness training.

The 31-year-old veteran hooker was expected to be out for between four to six months.

Conraad Johannes (Boetie) Britz was called up to the Kings squad last week, following Franklin's injury.

Britz, who had been part of the larger training squad before the break last year, would be converted from flank to hooker to stand in for Franklin.

The 25-year-old Britz started his career representing the SWD Eagles at the Craven Week and made the South African schools team in 2005.

The following year he made the SA Under-19 team in the 2006 World Championships. He then represented Western Province at U19, U21 and Vodacom Cup level between 2007 and 2009.

In 2009 and 2010, he played for Maties in the Varsity Cup, helping them to two championships, before joining the Eastern Province Kings for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.