Chiefs resigned to again being without Cane

Chiefs coach Colin Cooper has labelled co-captain Sam Cane ‘‘unlikely’’ to return from injury in Saturday night’s Super Rugby match against the Crusaders in Hamilton.

The All Blacks openside flanker is still struggling with an abdominal injury he picked up early in the month, and is now racing against the clock to be fit for the first test against France in Auckland next Saturday.

If the 26-year-old is indeed healed in time for that Eden Park fixture, and he doesn’t take the park this weekend, he will go into that opening test with no gametime under his belt since the Chiefs’ match against the Reds in Brisbane on April 21.

Cane suffered the injury in the leadup to his side’s meeting with the Jaguares in Rotorua on May 4, noticing a slight twinge during a gym session, before feeling it pull during a team training.

He said it had been diagnosed as an unusual ailment – a strain more often related to a calf or hamstring – and that it didn’t altogether cause him too much grief, but just enough to be keeping him out of action, with no timeframe put on a potential return.

Currently attending the threeday All Blacks camp in Christchurch, Cane got through some gym work yesterday, but Cooper said his side was preparing to be without him for another game.

‘‘Unlikely’’ was his simple response when asked whether Cane would be ready to face the defending champions, in what is the last round before the international break.

It means Mitchell Karpik would be set for another run in the No 7 jersey, having returned from concussion and impressed in the 39-27 win over the Waratahs at FMG Stadium Waikato last Saturday, in what was just his second match of the season, and first start.

The Chiefs didn’t pick up any injuries out of the weekend, but their other question mark is over lock/loose forward Tyler Ardron, who is still going through concussion protocols following his knock in Durban in the previous round, while prop Sefo Kautai still needs to get through some live scrummaging to be considered for his first action of the season, having picked up a back strain recently, following a foot injury.

After getting the boost of confidence they were after with the bonus-point victory over the Australian conference leaders following some clunky performances before that, the Chiefs now eye up their first Kiwi derby in seven weeks.

So, with that in mind, and the Crusaders’ wet-weather masterclass in their 24-13 defeat of the Hurricanes in Christchurch last Friday, a dry track will surely be hoped for?

Cooper effectively answered yes to that one, amid what is a stunning week’s forecast.

‘‘I’ll be looking for a track that’ll bring everyone to support us,’’ he said.

‘‘This team has had a lot of disruptions, injuries, but they’ve had a lot of mana with the way they’ve played.

‘‘Hopefully that’s enough respect for the crowd to come and support us.

‘‘And when you get home support there’s nothing better to lift the bar again. We think we can have a real go at the Crusaders.’’