Highlanders loose forward Liam Squire is in doubt for the All Blacks test series against France.
Assistant coach Mark Hammett has confirmed that the 27-year-old will miss a further six weeks of action after his broken thumb failed to heal properly.
"He had his cast taken off and under another scan it hadn't quite set how it was supposed to," Hammett said.
"Unfortunately, it had to be reset, and that effectively reset the start date, as well."
It will likely rule him out of the All Black's 2018 campaign opener against France at Eden Park on June 9.
Squire first injured the thumb against the Cheetahs towards the end of the previous Super Rugby season, before breaking it again in March during the game against the Crusaders.
The Highlanders are currently on the high veldt preparing for Sunday morning's (NZT) showdown with the Bulls, and had originally hoped to have Squire on deck for next week's match against the Sharks.
Promising utility forward Shannon Frizzell, who's fresh off a hat-trick against the Blues last weekend, will start in the No. 6 jersey.
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