SAM Warburton will miss the rest of Cardiff Blues’ season with a knee injury but is set to be fit for the British and Irish Lions’ tour of New Zealand.

The flanker suffered an injury in the first half of the Arms Park side’s draw with Guinness PRO12 title-chasing Ulster in Belfast last Friday.

Scans revealed ligament damage with the Blues estimating the 28-year-old will be sidelined for six weeks.

That will rule him out of the rest of the regular season - including their date with Newport Gwent Dragons in Caerphilly on May 6 - but the influential back row forward should be fine for June’s tour to New Zealand.

Lions head coach Warren Gatland names his tour party next Wednesday with Warburton tipped to be his skipper.

The flanker was back to his best for Wales in the Six Nations when he formed a fine double act with openside Justin Tipuric after shifting to blindside.

However, Warburton is favourite to wear 7 on his back in the encounter with the All Blacks.