The All Blacks could welcome back star duo Ardie Savea and Anton Lienert-Brown for next Saturday's second test against Fiji, assistant coach Brad Mooar says.
Both Savea and Lienert-Brown are yet to gear up for the All Blacks in 2021, having both missed the season-opening wins over Tonga and Fiji in the last two weeks.
But speaking after Saturday's 57-23 victory over Fiji in Dunedin, Mooar says that both Savea and Lienert-Brown and rookie lock Tupou Vaa'i are on track to play in next Saturday's second test.
Depending on the coming week of training, the three could return - whether starting or from the bench - in Hamilton.
"Ardie, Albie [Lienert-Brown] and Tupou are tracking superbly and they've taken more and more part of training as the week has gone on," Mooar says.
"So it will be good to see them start to put more into as we build the week."
Savea, 27, has been battling a knee injury sustained during Super Rugby Aotearoa, and re-aggravated during Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.
His absence, along with that of All Blacks captain Sam Cane, saw Dalton Papalii don the All Blacks' No.7 jersey against Tonga, before he too suffered an injury, ruled out of facing Fiji with a calf strain.
In his place, Ethan Blackadder played at openside flanker in the 57-23 victory over Fiji in Dunedin on Saturday night.
Lienert-Brown meanwhile underwent a minor surgical procedure in June, as the All Blacks' midfield stocks were worryingly thinned.
Jack Goodhue has already been ruled out for the rest of 2021 with a knee injury, while Ngani Laumape has moved to French club Stade Francais.
Braydon Ennor was another named in the All Blacks' squad, before he too was scratched after needing emergency surgery for appendicitis, and ruled out of facing Tonga and Fiji.
The All Blacks deployed Rieko Ioane and debutant Quinn Tupaea against Tonga, before the returning David Havili partnered Ioane in Saturday's win over Fiji.
Prop Karl Tu'inukuafe is also battling a shoulder injury, resulting in a maiden call-up for Chiefs prop Aidan Ross ahead of the second test against Fiji.
Join Newshub for live updates of the second test between the All Blacks and Fiji from 7pm Saturday.
