Malakai Fekitoa
All Black centre Malakai Fekitoa heads the list of key players set to return for the Highlanders’ Super Rugby preliminary play-off match against the Chiefs in Dunedin on Saturday.
Fekitoa missed last Friday’s victory over the Blues because of an injured groin, but coach Jamie Joseph is positive that 1 of his star backs will be fit for the encounter with the 2-time champion Chiefs.
The team received further boosts as they started training for their 1st home play-off match in 16 years.
3 Key forwards – No 8 Nasi Manu (shoulder), as well as locks Mark Reddish (broken hand) and Joe Wheeler (knee) – could be back for this week’s encounter.
Flank John Hardie looks to be the biggest injury concern for the Highlanders as they get into play-off mode.
Hardie, who damaged rib cartilage in the early stages of the match against the Blues at the weekend, could be in doubt.
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph said Hardie was in a reasonable amount of pain after the game and the extent of the injury was still unclear.
Wing Waisake Naholo also left the field after getting a bang to the elbow in the 2nd half but Joseph said it was not overly serious and he was taken off purely as a precaution.
”We’re playing a very good team who will have a lot to play for, and will be highly motivated after what happened to them a couple of weeks ago,” Joseph said.
”It’s good to be here. With that in mind, we just have to prepare properly and go about our work. It is another game but, in saying that, it is a little bit different.
”The winner goes forward and the loser goes home, so obviously there is a lot at stake. Win, lose or draw, this is finals rugby where every game is going to be really difficult.”
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