Rookie Hamish Gard will be thrust into the vacant No. 10 spot for the Crusaders' Super 14 match against the Lions at AMI Stadium on Saturday night.
But fullback Leon MacDonald is highly unlikely to play the South African side because of a small muscle tear in his thigh.
Crusaders coach Robbie Deans revealed Gard would make his first Super 14 run-on start at AMI Stadium in the absence of Dan Carter, who has been sidelined with a badly sprained ankle.
Stephen Brett, who injured the AC joint in his right shoulder against the Cheetahs on March 15 while playing in the No 12 jersey, can also play first five-eighths but Deans is reluctant to rush him back too early.
"Hamish is likely to start. If Stephen does get himself into a position to be considered it will be off the bench," Deans said. "Hamish has been working with us for the last month, whereas Stephen is coming in cold."
Gard, 22, has made two appearances as a replacement, against the Bulls and the Waratahs, this season. Both were in the latter stages when the victories had been bagged.
The injuries to Carter and MacDonald have forced Deans to reshuffle the backline of the side that beat the Hurricanes 20-13 on March 28.
Carter, who has spent the last 10 days with a moon boot on his left foot after he was assisted from the field when the Crusaders faced the Hurricanes on March 28, is confident of returning to play for the Crusaders before the Super 14 ended.
The ankle is still swollen and Carter is spending much of the time with his foot elevated, but he remains positive: "Yes, definitely, I think I will be able to play a few games later down the track. At this stage it's just a matter of getting it right and doing the little things well now so I will be right later on in the competition."
Crusaders doctor Tony Page remained cautiously upbeat about Carter's chances of getting back before the playoffs.
"We think (that time frame) is reasonable at this stage but we will just follow it step by step ... He will probably be in the moon boot for about another week, I would estimate, and then he will start some very light weight bearing with good strapping."
Page said it was normal for such an injury to still be swollen and expected it take "another three or four weeks probably" to subside.
Crusaders halfback Andy Ellis suffered a similar injury in pre-season and recovered in three weeks.
Although there were reports from a Sky TV cameraman that he heard an audible "crack" when he went down, Carter said that was news to him.
"I didn't hear anything. As the X-rays show, there was no bone damage which is positive."
Despite having the bye last weekend, the Crusaders have several players struggling with injury.
Lock Brad Thorn is nursing a tender calf and although Ross Filipo played 40 minutes for his Wellington club, Petone, last weekend, he will not be considered a starter against the Lions.
Lock Filipo, who required an operation on his neck earlier in the season, has not played a Super 14 match this season.
"He's a bit like Stephen Brett. He's got no background of contact and not a lot of volume out on the training field," Deans said. "The best-case scenario for him would be some time off the bench."
The Press
