Veteran lock Sam Whitelock will miss the Crusaders' Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final against Fijian Drua, after aggravating an Achilles tendon injury.
After announcing a move to France after the Rugby World Cup, Whitelock, 34, now seems likely to limp through his final weeks with the Crusaders, as they try to secure a seventh Super Rugby crown in as many years.
"Sam's not available this week obviously," said coach Scott Robertson. "We're waiting on examinations and tests and scans from his Achilles, but we're hopeful for next week."
The stalwart second-rower did not emerge for the second half of the Crusaders' meaningless regular season finale against the Hurricanes, as his team surrendered a 19-3 lead to lose.
"He wanted to look after it in the context of the match and the season ahead, which we did, but he's not quite right this week."
While Whitelock is an vital piece of the Crusaders' championship drive, he is just as crucial to the All Blacks' Rugby World Cup hopes, so he will likely be managed over the coming months to ensure he reaches the tournament in France.
He has already missed several rounds of Super Rugby Pacific with injuries this season.
"Sam had planned to have a much more-involved last season," said Robertson. "He's so important to us and so passionate about it - he trains at 100 percent still.
"He's a little bit frustrated, but we still hope he's got another game or two left in him."
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