There may even be a silver lining to his injury, however small.
Smith (32) suffered a high hamstring strain late in last Saturday’s draw with the Chiefs at Forsyth Barr Stadium and it was confirmed yesterday he will be out for six to eight weeks.
The Highlanders have five games left and combined with a bye week, their last game of the regular season is on June 14, which is 37 days away.
The fullback will have to recover quickly to make any of the regular-season games but he could be a candidate for any playoff games, should the Highlanders make it.
He is set to join French club Pau at the end of the season.
The drive to make the playoffs and allow the side’s talisman to play should be added motivation to get the Highlanders into the playoff picture.
Smith, who was playing his 152nd game for the Highlanders against the Chiefs last Saturday night, is a key player for the All Blacks.
All Black coach Steve Hansen will not want one of his main charges risked unduly until he is completely recovered from the injury.
Smith picked up the injury in an ugly tackle with Chiefs flanker Luke Jacobson and as he was carried off there were genuine fears he had done serious damage to his leg.
Fellow Highlander Aaron Smith said Smith was a loss but had already started his rehabilitation.
The Smiths had watched Game of Thrones together on Monday night, and Aaron Smith said his namesake was icing the injury as the recovery process began and was aiming to be back early.
If the worst does happen and Smith is out of Super Rugby for the season, his focus will shift to the All Blacks and playing in the World Cup.
The first game for the All Blacks in the prelude to the World Cup is against South Africa on July 27.
Smith will have to play games to get match-fit.
He may end up playing for Otago, for the first time in seven years. Or even for his beloved Green Island, where he sits on 49 games for the club.