Beauden Barrett is likely to be given a week off after injuring his knee during the Hurricanes 29-23 win over the Crusaders.
The star first five-eighth's injury concern was the only downside for coach Chris Boyd after his team's bonus point win extended their lead at the top of the Super Rugby ladder.
The Hurricanes, with nine wins from 10 matches, are within touching distance of a playoff berth as they eye up a home match next weekend against the wobbling Sharks.
Crusaders second five-eighth Dan Carter is hit in a big tackle by Hurricanes opposite Ma'a Nonu during the hosts close win.
Ten wins has traditionally been enough to qualify for Super Rugby's post-season, but the sight of Barrett limping off with 10 minutes to go against the Crusaders will be a concern.
"I haven't spoken to the doctor yet, but we had a look on the replay and I think he just got sandwiched from the side. But he's not too uncomfortable in there [the changing room],"Boyd said before suggesting he'd likely give his pivot his second mandatory All Blacks rest week rather than take any risk regardless of the seriousness of the injury.
"Possibly. If Beauden is not 100 per cent right we may well take the opportunity to give him second rest. I'd be inclined too."
The Hurricanes had too many weapons and too much confidence for the Crusaders at Westpac Stadium where a crowd of 17,065 were treated to possibly the match of the season.
Barrett's incredible pace, and the impact of loose forward Blade Thomson spearheaded the home team's efforts as they scored four tries to bag their seventh bonus point of the season to extend their dominance of the Crusaders to five wins from the last six matches.
Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder wasn't having any talk of his side's playoff hopes being over after their sixth loss, preferring to focus on what he rated "one of our best performances of the season."
Blackadder felt his team had dominated the first half and defended well, but given the Hurricanes too many opportunities to counter.
He was half right in that three of the Hurricanes four tries came from counter-attack, the last one to Thomson a breathtaking move that saw the ball transferred through seven sets of hands after Barrett had set off one of his dart like runs from 80 metres out.
But Blackadder must be concerned that the Hurricanes bettered the Crusaders physically when they didn't have the ball.
Brad Shields, James Broadhurst, Ma'a Nonu and even Barrett, throwing himself under prop Owen Franks front wheels in the first half, had the edge at the collision,
The Crusaders didn't play badly, first five Colin Slade matching Barrett with some moments of magical vision to set up his side's first try to Dan Carter, then score one himself.
Up until 25 minutes to play the match was deadlocked, 17-17 at halftime, then 20-17 to the Crusaders after Slade had kicked his second penalty.
It was waiting for someone to come up with the pivotal play, the moment that would swing momentum.
Enter Thomson, back after a long stint out with concussion. He subbed on after 52 minutes and with his first touch, sliced through the Crusaders backline.
The Hurricanes threw the kitchen sink at the ensuing attack and eventually prop Reggie Goodes burrowed over, Barrett's conversion putting his side up 24-20 with 25 to play.
Minutes later Barrett was off again from deep, and it was Thompson who ran onto TJ Perenara's long pass to stretch the lead to 29-23 with 15 minutes to play.
In truth, Thomson's break was the result of a Hurricanes defensive stand after halftime.
The Hurricanes held, eventually forcing a turnover and moments later Thomson sparked the renaissance.
In the opening minutes Slade spotted lock Jeremy Thrush loitering off the ruck and exposed him for pace to put Carter under the posts.
A rare Slade mistake saw Barrett streak 80 metres when he scooped up a loose pass to tie the scores.
Fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder used his magic feet to punish a poor clearing kick, Conrad Smith burst down the flank then rolled the ball in to Ardie Savea, who in turn found Shields for a 14-7 lead.
The Hurricanes first half efforts werne't helped by Matu'u's poor lineout throwing and Nonu being sinbinned for slowing the ball at a ruck.
When a Matu'u lineout throw found its way into enemy hands, Slade sliced through again, bounced out of Julian Savea's tackle to put his side up 17-14 ten minutes from the break.
Hurricanes 29 (Brad Shields, Reggie Goodes, Blade Thomson, Beauden Barrett tries, Barrett 3 con, pen) Crusaders 23 (Dan Carter, Colin Slade tries, Colin Slade 2 con, 3 pen). HT: 17-17
- The Dominion Post
