Cavalry on the way for Hurricanes

Chris Boyd is no medicine man.

So while he wasn’t able to describe the nature of Dane Coles’ knee injury, the Hurricanes head coach could at least say when the skipper would be back.

‘‘He will probably be available for selection next week,’’ Boyd said.

Coles suffered some kind of right knee strain in the March 18 win over the Highlanders at Westpac Stadium. According to Boyd the hooker ‘‘could’ve played at a pinch,’’ when the Hurricanes meet the Reds in Brisbane tomorrow, but it made more sense not to bother.

The Hurricanes host the Waratahs on Friday week, at which point Coles won’t be the only first-string player back in the selection mix. Lock Vaea Fifita hasn’t featured since injuring an ankle at the Brisbane Global Tens, while Jane hasn’t been able to take his customary place on the right wing after hurting his neck in

Tokyo ahead of round one.

‘‘He’ll probably be available for next week against the Waratahs. Probably,’’ said Boyd of Fifita.

He then rolled out the same line in relation to Jane and Coles. Further down the track, No.8 Blade Thomson (shoulder) is said to be ‘‘two or three weeks away’’ and loosehead prop Loni Uhila (calf) ‘‘three or four weeks away.’’

At that point the Hurricanes would be in the rare position of being, virtually, at full strength.

In the meantime they flew out to Brisbane on Thursday afternoon for what looms as a tricky encounter.

New Zealand fans - with some justification - have adopted an air of dismissiveness where teams from the other nations are concerned.

But the Reds - featuring players of the calibre of Karmichael Hunt, Samu Kerevi, Scott Higginbotham, George Smith, Kane Douglas, Rob Simmons and Stephen Moore - are far from the worst team around.

The Hurricanes come into this game on the back of a bye, without their skipper and with - in all fairness - a reasonably high expectation that they ought to win. It all adds up to a sneaky feeling that an upset could be on the cards.

‘‘If you look at the Reds, they beat the Sharks at home and they probably should’ve beaten the Crusaders at home.

‘‘[They] had a tough tour to Jo’burg and then on to Buenos Aires and that’s a tough tour for anybody,’’ said Boyd.

‘‘They’re one out of five and you’d sit there and say they haven’t had such a good season, but they’re very capable. At home they’re a dangerous beast.’’

Boyd’s not anxious about the match, though.

‘‘No [but] we need to play properly. They will challenge everybody who goes there this year.’’

Without Coles, Ricky Riccitelli will start at hooker in the only change to the starting side that beat the Highlanders 41-15. That means Ardie Savea being retained at No 8.

Leni Apisai assumes Riccitelli’s spot on the bench, while Pita Ahki is the reserve utility back instead of Wes Goosen. If Ahki gets on the park, it will mark his Super Rugby debut.