Smith left the field in the first half of last Friday night's game against the Chiefs after falling heavily from the air and suffering a concussion.
Highlanders assistant coach Mark Hammett said yesterday the fullback would not play this week as he went through concussion protocols.
An exact return date, was still uncertain, Hammett said.
''We will assess it and go through the normal protocols. Obviously his health is the No1 priority,'' he said.
''We have got a couple of options there ... [Matt] Faddes, Jason Emery, Bucky [Richard Buckman] is back ... he is a favourite down here and he is a favourite among the group, as well. It is good having him back.''
Buckman spent the off-season at Japan playing for Panasonic after missing all of last year because of a shoulder injury. He arrived back in New Zealand early last month and did not play in the pre-season, going through some training to get up to speed to play at this level and was not named in last week's squad.
Hammett said nothing has yet been decided on who would captain the side to replace Smith but the team had plenty of options.
The Highlanders have had a look back at their first game and Hammett said there was plenty of good stuff done, mixed in with the bad.
''We didn't get the result, so that was the bad stuff. We underkicked to a degree. I feel like we're a team that in the past have played better with less possession. We got a heck more than we have ever had.
''So we've just got to get smarter and play the game we want. In the weekend we were rusty and that was clear. But that happens when a lot of your squad has only had 40 minutes and then come in here. So that is going to take a couple of games to get up to speed.''
A former Crusaders player and assistant coach, Hammett said he had no feelings for his former team.
''I haven't lived in Christchurch for six years. You are very connected and involved in the team you are in. You get very close with the team you are with. So it won't feel funny at all.''
The Highlanders are hoping for a crowd of 20,000 for the match at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday night. As of yesterday about 13,000 tickets had been sold.