Rugby: Savea out for up to six weeks

Ardie Savea of the Hurricanes. File photo / Getty Images

Hurricanes flanker Ardie Savea had an operation on his dislocated finger on Saturday and will be out of action for up to six weeks.

The highly-touted 21-year-old has enjoyed a strong campaign for the unbeaten Hurricanes in 2015 but damaged his finger in last Friday's 20-13 win over the Highlanders in Dunedin.

Savea's absence has caused a headache for the Hurricanes but assistant coach Clark Laidlaw said the side had plenty of depth in the loose forwards.

"We are really happy with the way Callum Gibbins has been going. He's had a bit of game-time this year already so he's obviously the seven that can step in there," Laidlaw said today.

Wider training group member Adam Hill is also an option, while Manawatu's Heiden Bedwell-Curtis has joined the squad as cover for Savea.

Laidlaw said it was disappointing for Savea who had played a positive role in an impressive Hurricanes forward pack.

"He's really matured in to a player that can start every week and his development over the last two and three seasons is going really well," Laidlaw said.

The Hurricanes' next assignment is a home outing against the 2-3 Melbourne Rebels in the capital on Friday.

The game shapes as one where the Hurricanes may rest some of their All Blacks as they all need to skip two matches this season to keep fresh ahead of this year's World Cup.

"We are not going to rest our players in [New Zealand] conference games because we know how important that is to qualify [for the playoffs] in the competition," Laidlaw said.

"So when we play the Australian and South African teams it gives [us] an opportunity to potentially rest some of the boys."

Most of the Hurricanes have been given at least one game off - or skipped matches through injury - but first-five Beauden Barrett is yet to miss out.

While the Hurricanes won't underestimate the Rebels, they know this week looms as a game where James Marshall could be entrusted to run the cutter, while Barrett takes a break.

Marshall has been used in a bench utility role this season but did play first-five during the final 20 minutes of the Hurricanes' victory over the Western Force in round three.

"We've got more than enough confidence for Jimmy to start at 10," Laidlaw said.

Wider training group member Otere Black would be a potential deputy on the bench.

Despite having won their first five outings this season, No 8 Victor Vito said the side wanted to improve and believed they had the potential to get better.

"We've got a long way to go in terms of performance," Vito said.

The Hurricanes were upset by the Rebels in their inaugural season in 2011 and Vito said that 42-25 loss - which is where things turned pear-shaped for the Hurricanes that year in their first campaign under former coach Mark Hammett - stuck with him.

"That's something that really sticks in my mind and that wasn't actually a very enjoyable year, to be honest, so every time I see them it's a bit of a reminder just to be on your guard."