A calf complaint has forced Dane Coles out of the second test against Fiji in Hamilton on Saturday night.
The All Blacks hooker was named on the bench behind Codie Taylor, but experienced tightening in the calf after training on Thursday and has been replaced by Samisoni Taukei'aho.
Coles was the star of the first test in Dunedin, scoring four tries after coming on as a second-half substitute in the 57-23 win last Saturday.
Taukei'aho was called into the squad last week after an injury to Asafo Aumua, and could make his test debut if called upon at FMG Stadium.
The Chiefs hooker was invited to play for Tonga at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, but declined to focus on making the All Blacks after a promising schoolboy career where he represented New Zealand.
Captain Sam Whitelock's sure the apprentice has learnt all he needs to from the master.
"He's just tried to learn and grow," says Whitelock.
"It's been awesome watching all the hookers working together. I feel for Colesy - but they were working together on their throwing and stuff like that on Wednesday."
And Whitelock, back in the captaincy role after coming off the bench a week ago, is pleading for a bit more effort from his troops on Saturday night.
"The key thing I want to see is just effort.
"I know it sounds pretty simple and it's no different to what a first 15 would talk about, but it just shows if you have a good understanding, work ethic, everything else flows from there."
Following Saturday night's test against Fiji, the All Blacks will have two weeks off before the Bledisloe Cup opener against the Wallabies at Eden Park on August 7.
