Wellington Phoenix captain Alex Rufer is out for the rest of the A-League season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in the loss to the Brisbane Roar

Scans have confirmed the worst for Rufer who will have surgery in four to six weeks and faces up to a year of rehabilitation.

Rufer's started all of the side's 14 matches this season - with a new skipper required for Friday's game against Newcastle as vice-captain Oli Sail is with the All Whites.

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