The Hurricanes' hooking stocks have suffered a further hit after Motu Matu'u was ruled out for six-to-eight weeks with a fractured arm.
With first-choice hooker Dane Coles already on the sidelines with a fractured cheekbone, Matu'u suffered a break to his right forearm during the Hurricanes' loss to the Stormers in Palmerston North last night.
The Hurricanes are today departing for their two-week tour of South Africa, with matches to come against the Bulls in Pretoria and the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. Ash Dixon has been named to replace Matu'u in the 25-man travelling squad, with prop Reggie Goodes providing back up.
It is the second time in the campaign that coach Mark Hammett has had to deal with a hooking crisis, with veteran Jason Rutledge having been called up as injury cover already this season.
The Hurricanes head to the Republic currently sitting in third in the New Zealand conference and in sixth place overall, with five wins and four losses to their name.
