All Blacks utility Damian McKenzie has withdrawn from the Chiefs' Super Rugby season-opener against the Blues on Friday.
Named in the No.15 jersey earlier this week, McKenzie, 24, pulled up with a tight adductor (groin) at training and has been replaced by North Harbour fullback Shaun Stevenson for the Eden Park game.
McKenzie missed most of last season - including the All Blacks' Rugby World Cup campaign - after tearing knee ligaments in April.
"It's unfortunate for Damian," says Chiefs captain Sam Cane. "He was doing some speed [drills] the other day and tightened his groin up.
"It's nothing serious - if it was a final, he'd play. He was keen to play after his lengthy layoff, but there is a long season ahead of us and we're keen to have him for most of it."
Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3-Nepo Laulala, 4-Tyler Ardron, 5-Mitchell Brown, 6-Lachlan Boshier, 7-Mitchell Karpick, 8-Sam Cane, 9-Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 10-Kaleb Trask, 11-Solomon Alaimalo, 12-Alex Nankivell, 13-Quinn Tupaea, 14-Sean Wainui, 15-Shaun Stevenson
Bench: 16-Bradley Slater, 17-Atu Moli, 18-Angus Ta'avao, 19-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20-Pita Gus Sowakula, 21-Brad Weber, 22-Aaron Cruden, 23-Anton Lienert-Brown
