Wellington are facing a locking crisis heading into Saturday's ITM Cup clash with Auckland after Jeremy Thrush suffered a neck injury at training.
The big second rower suffered a compressed neck during a contact session and was taken to Wellington Hospital as a precaution.
"We were having a bit of contact training and he just went in the wrong way and stayed on the ground," said coach Andre Bell.
"He wasn't knocked out. He just stayed on the ground and as a precaution we rang the ambulance so we'll have to wait and see [how he is]."
Thrush's injury comes after Daniel Ramsay was ruled out for the season with a shoulder injury that will be operated on next week. Mark Reddish is also out of the round seven match at Eden Park because of concussion.
That has prompted Bell to bring in Nick Passi from the Wellington B team as cover with Api Naikatini now likely to start in the second row against Auckland.
The situation is eerily similar to the predicament Wellington found themselves in last season when Thrush [shoulder], Reddish [leg], Naikatini [broken arm], Chris Middleton [back] and Passi [concussion] were on the sidelines.
Then prop Jacob Ellison was converted to a lock and Bell has not ruled out the possibility this time round either.
"Originally we didn't consider that but he does come back into consideration," Bell said of Ellison. "Nick Passi has come in from club rugby so there are a few dilemmas."
Another dilemma for Bell is whether or not to stick with Fa'atonu Fili at first five-eighths or give Lima Sopoaga his first start of the season.
Bell has been frustrated by the lack of direction on attack and his side's persistence in trying to run themselves out of trouble even when deep in their own 22.
Sopoaga had a more steady influence when he came on in the second half against Manawatu and Bell confirmed he was well in the mix for a start against Auckland.
"We're just looking at the right combination. We're confident that whatever way we go those two will be able to drive us around."
Hosea Gear, who missed the loss in Palmerston North with a hamstring injury, is about 90 percent fit.
"We will monitor him closely. Hosea is involved with the Commonwealth Games team so if he's not a 100 percent I won't consider him," added Bell.