Regular fullback Jordie Barrett looms as the possible answer to the All Blacks' midfield woes, with a gaping hole at second-five for the return Bledisloe Cup fixture against Australia at Eden Park.
During their 39-37 victory over the Wallabies at Melbourne, a chaotic spell saw the All Blacks forced into a drastic backline reshuffle.
Incumbent No.12 David Havili was forced from the field by a failed concussion test, before replacement Quinn Tupaea had his night - and season - ended by a thuggish act from Australian loose forward Darcy Swain.
As a result, Barrett - whom Foster has always preferred in the No.15 jersey - shifted into midfield, as older brother Beauden moved to fullback.
And while a mid-test reshuffle is less than ideal for the All Blacks coaches, Foster has hailed his side's adaptability after Barrett's switch.
"That sort of stuff's on the cards," Foster said. "It's not every test you lose two in the same position within such a short time period.
"I thought the guys adapted well. Jordie at 12, we know he's really competent there, he's keen to play there at some point.
"I thought he did the job pretty well. I see him as a 15 that can cover 12 - the rest we'll ponder."
With more than a week until the second Bledisloe Cup test, Foster and his staff have time to fill the No.12 vacancy.
Tupaea's injury only adds to Foster's headache in midfield, with regulars Anton Lienert-Brown and Jack Goodhue also out for the foreseeable future with injury.
The brimming casualty ward leaves rugby league convert Roger Tuivasa-Sheck - who has made just one test appearance off the bench - as the last specialist midfielder standing, while Barrett and Leicester Fainga'anuku both loom as utilities.
Tuivasa-Sheck has the advantage of this weekend's NPC clash between Auckland and Tasman to show his wares, but Foster gives nothing away over his preference.
"We've got Roger playing [Saturday], so we'll have a good look at that. Clearly, we've got Jordie and we've got the likes of Leicester, who can fill in there too.
"We've got a few options."
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