KEY POINTS:
Halfback Andy Ellis has been ruled out of tomorrow night's national provincial rugby final in Wellington, casting doubt over his availability for the All Blacks' end of year tour.
Although Ellis was able to train with Canterbury yesterday, the knee ligament damage he sustained during last weekend's semifinal victory over Hawke's Bay has not healed sufficiently.
He was noticeably favouring his right leg yesterday and was ruled out after Canterbury's captain's run - a lightwrok out before they headed to the capital.
Ellis has been replaced by Tyson Keats while Steve Alfeld comes on the bench.
The All Blacks medical staff have also been updated with Ellis's condition with a decision on his availability not expected until the 35-man tour party is named on Sunday morning.
Ellis started the season as the All Blacks No 1 halfback but a rib injury suffered during the opening Bledisloe Cup loss in Sydney has seen him usurped by Jimmy Cowan and Piri Weepu, who plays first five-eighth at Westpac Stadium tomorrow.
If Ellis is also ruled out of the tour Wellington halfback Alby Matthewson now looms as the third pick behind Cowan and Weepu for the one-off test in Hong Kong before a Grand Slam attempt in Great Britain and Ireland - and a midweek fixture to commemorate Munster's 12-0 win over the 1978 All Blacks.
Canterbury coach Rob Penney had initially been optimistic that Ellis would be fit but he did not pull up well after yesterday's run.
Keats has proved an able deputy for Ellis though faces a huge challenge against the in-form Matthewson.
"I'm just taking a relaxed approach to it all. I don't want to get too wound up," he said.
Canterbury: Scott Hamilton, Paul Williams, Casey Laulala, Tim Bateman, Sean Maitland, Colin Slade, Tyson Keats, Kieran Read (captain), Richie McCaw, Hayden Hopgood, Isaac Ross, Michael Paterson, Greg Somerville, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crockett.
Reserves: Steve Fualau, Owen Franks, Nasi Manu, George Whitelock, Steve Alfeld, Hamish Gard, Adam Whitelock.
- NZPA
