Just days before the All Blacks squad is announced to contest this year's Rugby World Cup in France, selection hopeful Ethan Blackadder cannot catch a break on the injury front.
Blackadder, 28, was a standout in his maiden 2021 season with the national team, but has struggled to stay fit since.
Last year, a dislocated shoulder at the end of Super Rugby Pacific with the Crusaders saw him miss the entire international campaign.
While Blackadder made a brief comeback in 2023, as the Crusaders won their seventh title in seven years, calf and quad injuries kept the versatile loose forward out of the Rugby Championship.
As the All Blacks named their first squad of the year, forwards coach Jason Ryan told Newshub the World Cup door was not shut on any player who missed out due to injury.
Hoping to make a comeback for Tasman in the NPC, starting Friday against Otago, Blackadder has suffered a recurrence of that calf problem that kept him out of Super Rugby.
"He re-did a calf a couple of weeks ago," said All Blacks coach Ian Foster. "We're just assessing him at the moment."
With the Rugby World Cup squad to be named on Monday, Blackadder will not get a chance in professional rugby to prove his worth to selectors, as they finalise their 33-man roster.
What's more, as the All Blacks second string hosts Australia in Dunedin, the likes of Samipeni Finau and Luke Jacobson will get one last chance to push for loose forward spots.
While Blackadder will not get the chance, All Blacks midfielder David Havili will line up in the Mako No.12 jersey against Otago.
Havili, 27, suffered a hamstring injury late in Super Rugby, with Crusaders teammates Brayden Ennor and Dallas McLeod receiving All Blacks call-ups in his place.
Foster gives no assurances whether players' efforts at provincial level will change his selection picture for the World Cup.
"It's all going to depend on what we do, whether they're picked or not," continued Foster. "I'll let you know on Monday."
Meanwhile, fellow All Blacks hopefuls Hoskins Sotutu (Counties Manukau), Stephen Perofeta (Taranaki), and Jack Goodhue (Northland) will line up for their NPC sides as their last hitouts before the World Cup squad is named.
Join Newshub at 2:30pm Saturday for live updates of the All Blacks v Australia Bledisloe Cup clash
