The Chiefs and All Blacks centre Richard Kahui will miss the Test against Fiji with a hamstring injury that might keep him out of rugby for up to a month, while the injured fullback Israel Dagg is in a race against time to fully recover before the World Cup and may have just one provincial game to prove his readiness.
Dagg is back running after seven weeks on the sideline but his earliest return to action might be when Hawke's Bay host Counties Manukau on August the 21st, one day before the All Blacks World Cup squad is named in the lead-up to the final Tri-Nations Test against Australia in Brisbane.
Dagg's been out of action since the Crusaders' win over the Stormers in early May, when he tore a muscle off his hip bone, and says it's a relief just to have made the All Blacks squad.
Kahui pulled up during a training session on Monday and will be sidelined for three to four weeks. He's aiming to return to action during the home leg of the Tri-Nations.
The All Blacks host Fiji in Dunedin on Friday with Tri-Nations matches at home to South Africa the following Saturday and Australia the week after that, before they visit the Springboks in Port Elizabeth and the Wallabies in Brisbane.
Hosea Gear will also miss the Fiji Test even though the winger is recovering well from a hamstring strain and is likely to be available for the All Blacks' Tri-Nations opener against South Africa the following week.
Injured outside back Isaia Toeava and prop Tony Woodcock will make their returns during the ITM Cup and are expected to be available for the away legs of the Tri-Nations.
