Blues standout Hoskins Sotutu is considered doubtful for their Super Rugby Aotearoa clash with the resurgent Hurricanes on Saturday.
The barnstorming No.8 has emerged as the Auckland-based side's most improved player this winter, with his form thrusting him among candidates for the All Blacks spot vacated by skipper Kieran Read after last year's World Cup.
But Sotutu was spotted hobbling due to a knee injury late in last week's loss to the Crusaders and although he completed the match, he is understood to have undergone scans afterwards.
He was confined to the gym during Tuesday's training and seems unlikely to front at Wellington's 'Cake Tin' this week.
Luckily, the Blues have a ready-made replacement in Akira Ioane, who has returned to some of his best form, while filling in for blindside flanker Tom Robinson in the No.6 jersey. Three-test openside Dalton Papalii has been the other loose forward starter.
Hurricanes forwards coach Dan Cron is braced for whoever lines up in opposition.
"They're probably the most in-form loose trio in the world at the moment, since we're the only ones playing," says Cron.
"[Sotutu] has been outstanding - he's a threat off the back of the scrum, so we need to nullify that.
"Akira is playing well and in great shape, and they're bringing Blake Gibson off the bench - he's an outstanding player. They've got great depth there."
Ioane has proved an enigmatic performer for the Blues since debuting in 2015, often failing to live up to his own All Blacks potential.
But he seems to have thrived in the rivalry with Sotutu and is now carving a niche as his running mate off the side of the scrum.
"Just as long as I'm out there," he tells Newshub. "Hoskins is going well and you don't want to change things that are going well.
"I'm happy to do my role at 6. It's not really new - I started off as a 6 - it's all the same to me and as long as I'm on the field, I'm happy."
Join us at 7pm Saturday for live updates of the Hurricanes v Blues Super Rugby Aotearoa clash