The Blues hooker, Keven Mealamu's been forced home early from South Africa with an injured calf.
The veteran was a late withdrawal from last week's Super Rugby match against the Bulls and hasn't recovered for their clash with the Lions in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Mealamu's battled calf injuries for the last three seasons and was limited to nine of a possible 16 Super Rugby matches last year, averaging only 40 minutes a game.
He's played just one game this season off the bench.
The Blues coach, John Kirwan, says the latest injury isn't serious, but they've decided to let it heal fully.
Kirwan's called the Blues' development hooker, Gafatasi Su'a, into the squad as a replacement and he'll fly out to Johannesburg tomorrow.
Mealamu says he's gutted at having to go home and hopes to be fit to play the Cheetahs at Eden Park next weekend.
He turns 35 next week and the recurrence of the injury may cause concern for the All Blacks coach, Steve Hansen, following the retirement of the veteran hooker, Andrew Hore, last year.
Mealamu's previously expressed his desire to play through to next year's world cup.
