They were among the revelations of the Highlanders' season last year but, one week out from the first pre-season match, the side's back three have been barely sighted on the paddock.
Fullback Ben Smith is still on All Black leave, left winger Patrick Osborne is battling a calf complaint, while right winger Richard Buckman is struggling to shrug off a knee injury.
The first game of the competition is more than a month away for the Highlanders - the side has a bye in the first round - and coach Jamie Joseph is hoping three of his best attacking weapons come right.
''You's have to say they'd be unlucky if they didn't come right. But Richard took his time to get the knee right and then he was tackled awkwardly at practice yesterday [Thursday] and did something to it,'' he said.
''We'll have to wait a couple of days for the swelling to go down to see how it is.''
Buckman injured his knee in the ITM Cup semifinal, damaging his medial ligament. He had been cautious with the injury and worked hard on the recovery before Christmas.
Osborne picked up the calf injury during the ITM Cup and continued to play. But it was still troubling him. It was hoped it would clear up by the start of the Highlanders season, against the Crusaders at Forsyth Barr Stadium on February 21.
Smith was due to join the team on January 26, coming back from leave, which included getting married in Wanaka earlier this month.
Joseph said there were other players with niggles but that was usual in professional rugby these days.
New recruit, hooker Ash Dixon, who broke his arm in the New Zealand Maori tour of Japan last November, was unlikely to play against the Crusaders next week. as he continues his path to full fitness.
Loose forwards Dan Pryor and Gareth Evans were also struggling with niggles but Joseph said taking into consideration the wider training squad members, there were plenty of players to pick from, so there was no rush to get players back quickly for the pre-season.
With the pre-season match against the Crusaders in Timaru set for next Saturday, the side will be upping its intensity next week.
The team returned to training on January 5 and had been working hard for the past two weeks, under some intense heat.
''Most of the boys are from the North Island so don't mind the heat. It's us southerners who have been struggling with it and moaning about it.''
He said fitness levels among players were pleasing although most teams were on a par at this time of year.
''The key difference I think is the desire levels. The bigger franchises that have got a lot of All Blacks tend to start playing a bit better later in the year. I'm not sure we can afford to do that.''
Joseph said the side needed a game and the players were looking forward to getting out and playing after all the training.
