The Highlanders have confirmed first five Colin Slade has had his jaw wired shut and will be out of Super Rugby for 10 weeks, seriously jeopardising his World Cup chances.
He suffered his second broken jaw of the season during his side's 40-18 bonus point win over the Rebels in Melbourne on Friday night.
The injury comes just three games into Slade's return from another broken jaw which kept him on the sidelines for nine weeks.
The timing couldn't be worse for Slade who starred in the Highlanders home wins over the Brumbies and Cheetahs before disaster struck again in Melbourne.
The race to be first five Dan Carter's All Blacks backup remains wide open.
Slade, in his short time with the Highlanders, had probably pushed his way to the front of that queue, but will now watch from the sidelines as the other contenders push their World Cup claims.
