The Auckland captain Daniel Braid will miss up to four weeks of the provincial ITM Cup competition with his groin tear, suffered in the opening round win at Hawke's Bay.
Braid is replaced by Sean Polwart for Wednesday's game at Canterbury, with 19-year-old flanker Sean Brookman coming onto the bench for the first time.
The All Black halfback Piri Weepu will make his first start for Auckland off the bench.
