Adam Thomson may have finished his All Black duties for the domestic season but he will not be available for Otago until the final game of the round-robin, when Otago plays table-topping Wellington.
If Otago makes post-season play he will be available for those games.
All Black manager Darren Shand said players had gone directly from the Super 14 to the domestic test season, and under the collective agreement the players were entitled to a two-week rest period after the end of the test season.
Even players who had not seen much match time for the All Blacks had carried a full load of training, conditioning and travel in the past three months, and would benefit from the break, Shand said.
Five All Blacks - Neemia Tialata and Piri Weepu (Wellington), Rudi Wulf and Anthony Boric (North Harbour) and Isaia Toeava (Auckland) - will play for their provincial sides this weekend.
Thomson is one of 11 All Blacks who will not be sighted until round 10 of the competition.
Thomson played for Otago against Hawkes Bay in week five of the Air New Zealand Cup at Carisbrook.
He did not see any playing time for the All Blacks against Australia in the Tri-Nations decider in Brisbane last Saturday.
Shand said Dan Carter would play for Canterbury only in the event of injury to other players, and Rodney So'oialo had a similar arrangement with Wellington.
Richie McCaw, Mils Muliaina, Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith would be available for their teams from the quarterfinals.
Locks Ali Williams and Brad Thorn, who transferred to the Tasman province this year, would not turn out in that team's colours this season.
Williams had carried an ankle injury throughout the international season, while general wear and tear had told on Thorn, and both needed a rest.
Prop Tony Woodcock had a persistent toe injury and would be assessed in two weeks before a decision was made on his return to North Harbour.
The All Black squad for the end-of-year Grand Slam tour and the Bledisloe Cup test against Australia in Hong Kong on November 1 will be named on October 26, the day after the final of the Air NZ Cup.
