Chiefs backline stars in doubt for season-ender

The Chiefs are resigned to being without two of their best backs as they prepare for their final Super 12 match, against the Highlanders.

The groin strain which sidelined halfback Byron Kelleher during the first half of the 28-28 draw with the Brumbies in Canberra last weekend has all but ruled him out for Saturday night's game in Hamilton.

Centre Niva Ta'auso, perhaps the find of the year for the Chiefs, is in the same situation. The Super 12 rookie picked up a bad haematoma on a quad muscle in the same match and may have some muscle damage.

"They're highly doubtful," Chiefs coach Ian Foster said last night. "We'll wait until Thursday [when the team is named] but in both cases we expect them to be out."

Foster said Kelleher was walking well enough on Sunday, but "he's still very sore, still tender".

Kelleher's injury will have the All Blacks selectors interested. The bustling 28-year-old is the encumbent test No 9, and the last of his 32 tests was the 45-6 tonking of France in Paris last November when he had an outstanding game.

However, Crusader Justin Marshall, who missed that tour, seems to have overtaken him.

Foster was unable to speculate how long Kelleher might be out of action.

What that will do is heighten selectorial interest in the form of Hurricanes halfback Piri Weepu, who squares off against Marshall at Jade Stadium on Friday night.

The other player who will be at the back of coach Graham Henry's mind is Blues player Steve Devine, whose injury-riddled season has had him in and out of the side. He is tipped to be back to face the Waratahs in Sydney on Friday night.