All Blacks: McAlister injured

A back injury has prevented Luke McAlister from playing club rugby for a second weekend, leaving question marks over his fitness ahead of the All Blacks' Tri-Nations test against Australia on Saturday.

McAlister will play the Auckland test at first five-eighth if fit, however a back strain has sidelined him from any rugby since the test win over Italy at Christchurch two weeks ago.

He took no part in this week's two-day All Blacks camp in Wellington while two intended matches for his North Harbour club Silverdale have fallen through.

On Thursday All Blacks coach Graham Henry rated McAlister a fifty per cent chance of playing for his club yesterday but at that stage felt the 25-year-old was a likely test starter either way.

Henry's other first five-eighth option, Stephen Donald, will definitely miss the test with a hamstring injury.

If McAlister doesn't play, halfback Piri Weepu shapes as the most likely solution to wear No 10 at Eden Park.

Meanwhile, a handful of other All Blacks squad members played for their clubs yesterday, including returning loose forwards Richie McCaw and Rodney So'oialo, who played their first games for seven weeks.

Captain McCaw was happy with how his injured knee came through 45 minutes for his Christchurch club.

"The knee was really really good, it was probably just the lungs that were the only thing," McCaw said.

"I got the ball in hand a wee bit, made a few tackles. That was what I was after.

"It was nice to have a hit-out going into next weekend and good to have a run with the boys."

- NZPA