Fullback and co-captain Ben Smith will miss next week's game against the Reds in Brisbane but Liam Squire is likely to come back to play in the Sunshine State.
The All Blacks and the Super Rugby coaches have come to agreement that prospective All Blacks have to miss two games in the Super Rugby season.
Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger has kept his cards close to his chest and said all season the team had a plan in place for its All Blacks.
Yesterday, Mauger revealed Smith was not a typical All Black after a period away from the game last year.
"Ben is a little bit different. He had a sabbatical last year and he had a lot of time off. That has been really well managed between us and the All Blacks. He also did not play in the [Brisbane] tens, which was asked of us," Mauger said.
Mauger said the plan at the moment was for Smith to not return to Brisbane to play against the Reds next Saturday night.
The 33-man All Black squad is due to be picked on Sunday and an All Black camp in Auckland will follow for the next three days.
Mauger said the exact plans for the game against the Reds would depend somewhat on who was picked in the All Black camp.
No8 Luke Whitelock has played in every game for the Highlanders and his immediate future will depend on whether he makes the All Black squad.
Loose forward Squire broke his thumb in March and was expected to be out for six weeks. But he had complications with the injury and had to have it reset.
However, Squire has since made swift progress with his recovery and is well ahead of schedule.
"It feels a lot better this time that the last time he was operated on and he has ticked off a few boxes already.
He is in a good mental space and he had been doing all the skills work and then did a bit of contact work this week.
"He should be ready to go next week."
The cast was off and Squire had maintained good fitness throughout the period.
Squire will probably make the All Black squad and will be keen to show the selectors his game is up to scratch.
Richard Buckman is a chance to play a club game this weekend although the University club to which he is attached has a bye.
Buckman has been out all season with a neck injury but may be right for the Reds game next week if he gets through the club game all right.