Rugby: Blues in a spin after top prop's foot pain

Tony Woodcock. Photo / Getty Images

Anxiety levels are rising for the All Blacks and Blues as test prop Tony Woodcock heads for a scan today.

He is wearing a moonboot after damaging the top of his foot when it was caught at an awkward angle during one of the pileups in the Blues' latest win against the Rebels.

An initial x-ray cleared Woodcock of any break but he is due to have an MRI scan today to try to identify reasons for the continued pain.

"He is very sore," Blues coach Pat Lam said.

"He is a tough rooster, like Brad Thorn, and we know when he goes down that it has to be really bad, but I hope I am proved wrong. I am worried about Woody. I am hopeful but we will know more later in the week."

Whatever the verdict of the scan, Woodcock will miss the Blues' trip to play the Highlanders at Carisbrook on Friday. He is the only new casualty in a list which includes Charlie Faumuina, Brad Mika, Liaki Moli and Daniel Braid.

Lam will reveal his selection tomorrow with his greatest headache in the inside backs.

He has alternated Stephen Brett or Luke McAlister at first five-eighths and used them as a twin pivot partnership but Benson Stanley's midfield form against the Rebels suggests he will stay. His left foot kicking game offers variety, he is a leader in the defensive line and a strong runner.

McAlister's longer kicking game and better goalkicking ratio may tilt the decision in his favour at first five-eighths.

Tevita Mailau will replace Woodcock without any noticeable reduction in the scrum power. It is an area where the Blues will look for the sort of advantage the Crusaders managed in their last dust-up with the Highlanders.

"Their scrum might come under pressure but they manage the situation well," Lam said of his rivals.

"We know all about their doggedness, they keep fighting, they work for each other in tough situations. That sort of mental resilience is part of the reason for their success."

Lam has been impressed by the work the Highlanders do without the ball, something he wants his side to emulate. It showed their mental strength and if the Blues did not match that, they would be on the wrong end of the result on Friday.

Lam and Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph played their rugby through a similar era and the Blues' boss remembers the huge crowds and the abuse when Auckland travelled to play at the 'Brook.

The coaching duo have stayed in touch, and Lam reckons both will have a fair idea of the other's approach and tactics for their troops this week.

"The spirit they have regathered, Jamie has harnessed that and squeezed extra out of it. Many feel the Highlanders will break but we have not seen it yet and the Blues have to think they will not crack this round," Lam added.

"This is probably the biggest challenge we've faced so far, to go down there to that cauldron and play them. They deserve that by the way they are playing. We will have to be right on our game and the gameplan we use has to be spot on."

The Blues have several match templates they can vary for Friday. They have studied the Highlanders and know how they plan to play them.

"Now we have to go and train it," said Lam. "They will have key guys back like Adam Thomson, Jimmy Cowan and Alando Soakai, they will be at home, they will be on a high after the result with the Crusaders and they will have some fresh, strong replacements."

Getting more from the bench has become a priority for the Blues. Lam felt the reserves had been fans rather than an active help and they have worked hard to ramp up their impact.