All Blacks selector Grant Fox has said Nehe Milner-Skudder is in a race against time if he is to be a part of the All Blacks' 33-man squad for up and coming British and Irish Lions tour.
The 26-year old fractured his foot against the Chiefs in March and his injury is taking longer than expected to heal.
Milner-Skudder has had a horror run after missing the majority of 2016 with a shoulder injury.
Speaking to RadioLIVE's Sunday sport, Fox said it won't be easy for the World Cup winner to make the squad.
"Nehe is still in the red at this stage," said Fox.
"He is in race against time so it won't be easy for Nehe to get himself into the frame but we are not ruling him out.
"Injures are something we can't control and Nehe has had a dreadful run over the last year."
With Milner-Skudder unlikely to be a part of the squad, it opens the door for Jordie Barrett to be a potential bolter in the squad.
Fox was impressed with the 20-year-old's performance against the Crusaders on Saturday and thinks it's only a matter of time before he makes the All Blacks squad.
"He has been going well, and it is clear he has talent.
"It isn't a matter [of] if he is an All Black, it is when. That is up to us to decide when that is."
Fox also admitted picking a reliable bench for the three Tests will be key against the Lions who have plenty of power in the forward pack.
"To go up against the Lions without any lock cover would be silly.
"We need flexibility and we need to look how we cover injuries and impact.
"In the last number of years our bench has been a strength of ours and knowing when to make a change, and our coaching staff has done a great job doing that.
"It is a 23-man game nowadays and the fact of the matter is some guys are better off the bench than others."
The squad for the three-Test series will be named on June 8.
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