Hore in doubt for Hurricanes

Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper is sweating on the fitness of captain Andrew Hore who is a doubtful starter for the side's must-win Super 14 rugby match against the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday.

Hore suffered a nasty cut to his knee during their 23-13 win over the Brumbies in Canberra on Friday. Medical staff delayed stitching the wound to ensure there was no infection.

The combative hooker will be given as much time as possible to be available for the Highlanders match, but Cooper admitted his chances did not look good.

"It is a big cut and he's a 50-50 for the Highlanders. He just got a boot on the side of his knee. It's not his knee cap or anything like that, but ...," he told the Dominion Post.

Dane Coles will start at hooker if the Hurricanes captain is ruled out, with Ged Robinson summoned from Wellington club rugby as cover.

On the positive side for Cooper, openside flankers Karl Lowe (illness) and Scott Waldrom (impending fatherhood), along with halfback Piri Weepu (family bereavement) are all expected to return after missing the Canberra trip.

Weepu and Waldrom both played club rugby in Wellington on Saturday.

The Hurricanes sit eighth on the points table, eight points behind the fourth-placed Reds, so need to win their remaining four matches and hope some teams above them stumble in the run home if they are to make the playoffs.

- NZPA