David Raikuna is the latest Blues player added to a lengthy injury list, with the wing forced to pull out of their Super Rugby game against the Stormers in Cape Town tomorrow morning (NZT) with a hamstring strain.
It means 20-year-old Ben Lam will debut for the Blues on the right wing with Francis Saili, brother of Peter, moving onto the bench. Both players are in the Blues wider training group.
Raikuna joins All Blacks Jerome Kaino (shoulder), Anthony Boric (neck), Isaia Toeava (hip) and Rudi Wulf (shoulder) as well as George Moala (shoulder) on the treatment table. Kaino is the most serious of these and is out for at least six months.
On top of the injuries, Rene Ranger, Tony Woodcock and Michael Hobbs are also unavailable, although Woodcock will join the squad on their return from South Africa.
