The Highlanders' have been dealt a major blow midway through their Super 14 South African with captain and halfback Jimmy Cowan heading home with a dislocated finger.
Cowan suffered the injury in the second half of the Highlanders' 33-nil defeat to the Stormers in Cape Town on Sunday.
With Cowan unable to play this weekend against the defending champions the Bulls in Pretoria, the All Black will be replaced by his younger brother Scott who is part of the Highlanders' wider training group.
Otago's Sean Romans will step into the starting halfback role in the skipper's stead in Pretoria.
Highlanders officials say they expect Cowan to return to the field for the week six match against the Sharks in Dunedin on Saturday March the 20th.
The Southland prop Jamie Macintosh will take over the captaincy for the tour finale against the Bulls early Sunday (NZ time).
