All Black selectors will be among those waiting nervously for the result of Sunday's judiciary hearing for Crusaders prop Joe Moody.
Moody's return from a long injury layoff was meant to alleviate a front-row crisis, with the squad to face France next month due to be announced in seven days.
Instead, the 31-test veteran may face another lengthy layoff, after being cited for a foul-play incident in the Crusaders' dramatic 31-29 comeback win over the Waratahs on Saturday night.
- Crusaders rally from 29 points down to defeat Waratahs
- As it happened: Super Rugby - Crusaders vs Waratahs
- Prop Joe Moody cited for foul play in Crusaders comeback over Waratahs
Moody scored his team's first try as the Super Rugby champions rallied from 29-0 down to climb to the top of the competition table and stretch New Zealand's winning streak over Australian franchises to 39 games.
But replays of the build-up showed Moody taking out Waratahs defender Kurtley Beale with a forearm to the throat, before looming on Richie Mounga's shoulder for the final pass.
Parameters for such a charge suggest he could face 2-8 weeks or more on the sidelines, if found guilty, with the first test against France four weeks away.
"No, we'd prefer not to [lose him]," All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster told RadioLIVE Sunday Sport. "But he's got to go through a process now and what will be will be.
"There's no point getting too deep and dark about it, we just have to make sure we have another plan.
"Whatever plan we've got, we're pretty confident have the resources there to help any new players get up to the next level."
In recent weeks, established internationals Owen Franks and Ofa Tu'ungafasi have also returned from injury, but there's a long list of others that will struggle to make it back in time for the French series.
"We don't want too many more dings, that's fair," said Foster. "But as we saw last year, when we basically put a new front row in, it just creates a new opportunity for other players."
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson was reluctant to comment, pending the judicial process, but highlighted Moody's contribution to the comeback win.
"It looks minimal, but they have to go through the process and I hope Joe comes away with it," Robertson told Sunday Sport. "The last thing he needs is another rest.
"He's got a bit of momentum from his first game - he was player of the match. He put on a great show after being away so long and that's why he's the premier loosehead prop in the world.
"We hope we get a fair hearing and we get a good result."
Moody injured a shoulder against Argentina in last year's Rugby Championship and then his return to Super Rugby was delayed when he broke a finger in a club match."
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