The Wallabies have suffered a setback ahead of their end-of-year tour to Japan and Europe after Reece Hodge was sidelined with an ankle injury.
An innocuous training incident has fractured his ankle and he will not play against the All Blacks in Japan or fly to Europe for the remainder of the tour.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika confirmed the centre would not take part in his team’s four remaining matches this season on Sunday.
Cheika is left with limited options in trying to replace Hodge.
Samu Kerevi may have to be rushed into a Test rugby return having played his first minutes since the June Tests in the Byron Bay Sevens at the weekend.
“I think he had three games scheduled and one had to forfeit so he got two games under his belt,” Cheika said of Kerevi.
“He’s got a good block of training under his belt and he is probably a bit underdone but he has a lot of experience as well.
“We will decide once he arrives and we get him on the training paddock whether we think he is in the sort of condition he needs to be to play at least some part this weekend.”
Outside of a straight swap for Kerevi, Cheika may have to get creative.
Israel Folau could push into the centres having done so for the Waratahs sporadically over the years and there is also the presence of Sefa Naivalu in the squad to consider.
After the Bledisloe Cup clash in Yokohama Cheika will call for some reinforcements.
Both Jordan Petaia and Adam Ashley-Cooper are tipped to join the squad in Europe and Matt Toomua will also return from Leicester duties.
“I was thinking about bringing a couple of development players for the European section (of the tour) and we will just have to see,” Cheika said of his options.
“We are looking at bringing in someone who hasn’t been in the squad up until now.”
Hodge’s Melbourne team-mate Angus Cottrell will also miss the Bledisloe Cup clash having suffered an MCL injury at training on Thursday.
Pete Samu will fly straight from Fiji to join the squad in Japan after playing a part in the Canberra Vikings’ loss to the Fijian Drua in the first National Rugby Championship semi-final.
While those injuries will undoubtedly cause some selection headaches Cheika has a clear directive for his team as they strive to finish the season with a string of wins.
“Every game we are going out to win and expect to win,” he said.
“We have to prepare accordingly.
“But I don’t want to just say that.
“We have to deliver to get the result for all our supporters.”