The Western Force's hopes of causing a boilover against the Hurricanes have suffered a huge double blow after skipper Michael Wells and Wallabies hooker Folau Fainga'a were ruled out with injury.
Fainga'a has been battling Achilles soreness all season, while Wells' game time has been heavily reduced as well due to the issue.
The second-placed Hurricanes (4-1) are coming off a 59-0 win over Moana Pasifika, and will be licking their lips ahead of Sunday's match in Palmerston North.
"From the start of the season Folau has been battling a little bit with this Achilles," Force coach Simon Cron said.
"So for him, he's only been able to get through 40, 45, 50-minute blocks in 50 per cent of the games, and we've just made a decision that with the bye week next week, we just need to give him a longer recovery period, and see how that goes.
"It's the same with Wellsy. Wellsy's only getting through 30 to 40 minutes, and then we're having to make changes, and it's just getting a little bit hard."
Wells and Fainga'a join Wallabies lock Izack Rodda (foot), former All Blacks lock Jeremy Thrush (heel), and five-eighth Reesjan Pasitoa (ACL) on a growing injury list.
Cron is still hopeful Rodda will be able to play again this season, but there are no guarantees given his history of foot injuries.
Halfback Gareth Simpson will captain the side in the absence of Wells, while Wallabies prop Tom Robertson returns from concussion.
Hamish Stewart retains the No.10 jersey following the late scratching of Bryce Hegarty (back spasms) in last week's 30-17 loss to the Blues.
Hegarty will return via the bench, with the 10th-placed Force (2-3) aiming to end their three-week NZ tour with a win.
One star player who has been a surprise omission in recent weeks is Manasa Mataele, who was the joint winner of the Force player-of-the-season last year.
The powerful winger has again been overlooked in favour of Toni Pulu and Zach Kibirige.
"At the moment TP and Zach are really holding down those wing spots," Cron said.
"Putting Manasa on the bench was an option (we considered this week) to cover wing. But we need a bit more bench coverage at the moment with some of the (other) positions we need to cover on the field.
"But he'll be back. He's a good professional.
"One of the things he said in the off season was that when someone grabs the jersey, they shouldn't give it back easily, it should be hard.
"So it's actually great having competition with those wingers."
