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Local reinforcements have been called into the Highlanders as the squad is hit by suspensions and injuries.
Taieri prop Aki Seiuli, University lock Josh Dickson, Taieri lock-loose forward Charlie O'Connell and Harbour loose forward Hadleigh May have all come into the Highlanders squad this week as the side struggles with 11 players out.
Chris King picked up a one-week suspension for a stray elbow on Lions loose forward Warren Whiteley. Fellow prop Craig Millar is out with a shoulder injury and will be assessed in a fortnight.
Seiuli (21) has been training with the side over the past couple of weeks and can play both sides of the scrum.
He will definitely make the reserve bench on Friday night as the Highlanders have only three available props: Kane Hames, Ma'afu Fia and Matias Diaz.
Experienced lock Josh Bekhuis is out for at least a month. He damaged the medial ligament in a knee and twisted an ankle in the first half of the match against the Lions.
With Brad Thorn gone for the season with a bicep injury, Dickson (19) gets his chance.
He has not even played for Otago yet but is a player of potential and will turn out for the New Zealand under-20 team at the world junior championships in Auckland next month.
O'Connell (27) can play lock and loose forward, and is a solid tradesman who will not let anyone down.
May (20) plays on the openside flank for Harbour and played for New Zealand under-20 last year.
He is also yet to play for Otago.
John Hardie injured a medial ligament last Saturday and is out for a minium of two weeks.
With Lee Allan also struggling with a rib injury, May gets his chance.
Shane Christie, who missed last Saturday night's game because of a stiff back, is expected to be available again this week.
Key first five-eighth Lima Sopoaga is rated a 50-50 chance to play against the Hurricanes this Friday night as he battles an ankle injury.
Winger Patrick Osborne is still another couple of weeks away from playing as he struggles with a high ankle sprain.
Hooker Brayden Mitchell and winger Kurt Baker are still suspended.
Coach Jamie Joseph said the side was experiencing a bad injury run and the suspensions were not helping that.
About a month ago, Joseph had an almost injury-free squad but the rigours of a tough season are starting to tell.
The three incidents to earn suspensions were all different but, in the end, it came down to players showing some personal responsibility on the paddock, Joseph said.
He said although they had lost some experience because of the injuries there was still a core group of players available who had plenty of games under their belt.
With new rules not allowing coaches to pick players from other teams' wider training groups, Joseph said he was limited in which players he could select.
But he said the local players had talent and deserved a chance.
They would be with the squad until the injured player came back into the team.