There is still no decision on a replacement for No 8 Ezra Taylor and now the Highlanders may also have to resume the search for an extra winger.
Lucky Mulipola, who broke his arm in the opening game of the season, initially appeared to be recovering well from the injury and was said to be in line for a speedy return, but it looks like the winger will be gone for the season.
The Highlanders have said they will make a statement regarding Mulipola today, and that can only mean he has been ruled out.
That leaves Fetu'u Vainikolo as the only specialist winger in the squad. While Paul Williams has been filling in adequately, and Highlanders coach Glenn Moore has not rushed to find a wing replacement, it would not be a surprise to see an outside back join the squad.
Taylor is a confirmed goner after rupturing a knee ligament in a club game a week ago and Moore has made it clear he wants a specialist No 8 as a replacement.
Moore has been in Wellington for a meeting of Super 14 coaches and will have used the opportunity to discuss replacement options with the New Zealand Rugby Union.
If the NZRU asks the Highlanders to take a player from a wide training group, the leading option is Chiefs spare part Colin Bourke. If not, the Highlanders may look at former Otago loose forward Grant Webb, from Hawkes Bay, or promote promising University A No 8 Paul Grant.
Highlanders assistant coach Steve Martin said it was hoped the search for a loose forward replacement would be ‘‘further down the track'' when Moore returned today.
Highlanders lock-flanker Hayden Triggs trained fully yesterday after his recent eye injury and is expected to be available for selection for the game against the Force in Queenstown on Saturday.
Aaron Bancroft is also available after having eye surgery a month ago.
Martin said the Highlanders, who broke for the bye after four consecutive narrow defeats in the Super 14, hadreturned to their Logan Park headquarters determined to halt their losing run.
‘‘We had a full-on session this afternoon with quite a bit of contact and the boys responded well,'' he said. ‘‘There's a lot of enthusiasm in the team. We feel we've got a point to prove. We believe we're pretty close to getting some good results and we're aware of the things we have to do.''
While the Highlanders have had to deal with the frustration of four close losses, the Force is flying after nearly upsetting the unbeaten Crusaders and beating the Blues last weekend.
‘‘They certainly played well in that second half against the Blues and really took their chances,'' Martin said of the Force's 27-17 win at Albany.
‘‘We expected that from them. They're a balanced side and they've got those two or three real star players like [Matt] Giteau and [Drew] Mitchell and [Nathan] Sharpe. They play an expansive game. They like to move the ball and create opportunities, so they're dangerous.''
Giteau, the classy five-eighth, is clearly the Force's talisman, not to mention their goal-kicker and most highly-paid player.
He will likely be marked by Highlanders rookie Daniel Bowden, still finding his feet at Super 14 level.
‘‘People talk about player v player but with your playmaker it's about what they can do for their team,'' Martin said.
‘‘Dan is in our team to call pre-arranged patterns accurately and call the right options. It's not about him against Giteau, it's about Dan running our team.''
Martin said the Highlanders were eager to return to Queenstown to play with the sun on their backs and be cheered by a big crowd at the Events Centre.
