Hurricanes hoping for return from injury

The Hurricanes could have three All Blacks back to play the Chiefs on Friday, a pivotal match as they challenge for a place in the playoffs.

Skipper Tana Umaga and halfback Piri Weepu are expected to play, and No 8 Rodney So'oialo will be monitored with an ankle injury.

Umaga left the field early with a bruised thigh in the second half of Friday's 12-9 win against the Stormers in Palmerston North, but coach Colin Cooper was confident he would be able to play the last-placed Chiefs.

Weepu missed the Stormers game with an ankle injury, as did So'oialo. Weepu is likely to play the Chiefs but So'oialo's fitness will be a day-by-day assessment.

The return of So'oialo and Weepu would be welcomed by the Hurricanes, who battled to clear the ball from behind a retreating scrum and static rucks at Arena Manawatu.

Cooper admitted they struggled through a lack of experience against the Springbok-laden Stormers.

That was especially so in the decision-making positions of No 8, where Thomas Waldrom made his starting debut, and halfback, where Isaac Boss had only his second start for the franchise in that position.

"At times we went away from the game plan against the Stormers and at other times we played to it and it paid dividends. That comes down to experience," Cooper said.

"It's all the little things you have to take into consideration, like the new combination at eight and nine, and then losing your captain and your tighthead prop [Neemia Tialata]."

Cooper was conscious of another match against a desperate team after the loss two weeks ago to the previously winless Bulls and the last-gasp win against a Stormers team chasing their first win on the road.

It's the same this week, with the Chiefs last in the standings.

- NZPA