All Blacks skipper Kieran Read admits he might be forced to play the opening Test of the British and Irish Lions series a little rusty.
The 31-year-old loose forward broke a thumb a fortnight ago in the Crusaders' Super Rugby win over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, and was operated on in South Africa.
He is set to remain on the sidelines for about six weeks - taking him right up to the side's warm-up Test against Samoa on June 16.
The first Test against the Lions falls eight days later, on June 24.
As a result, Read said he was hesitant to risk the thumb in the Samoa match and might wait until the Lions game to make his comeback.
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That would mean playing his first game in almost two months in the cauldron of a Lions Test at Eden Park.
"That's probably a touch-and-go one - I think at the moment, they're kind of saying you can't use it for six weeks (and) that's a week before that Samoa game. We'll have to see if I push it or let things go," Read told Radio Sport.
"You can push it, (and) it's the type of injury you can push, but that increases the risk of a re-break.
"It's just a bit of time, to be honest."
Despite the injury, Read said he had kept fully match-fit during his Super Rugby absence and was confident of slotting back into the black jumper seamlessly.
He felt his 97-cap Test experience would see him through.
"I've played a number of Test matches and I've got the confidence in myself to turn up and play at a high level," Read said.
"The biggest thing is to back myself, and I'll be good."
