All Blacks midfielder Ryan Crotty is all but certain to miss Saturday's British and Irish Lions Test series decider with injury.
The 28-year-old Crotty strained a hamstring in the side's 30-15 first-Test victory over the Lions in Auckland, missing Saturday's second Test defeat.
There were faint hopes he would be ready for the Eden Park decider, but assistant coach Ian Foster squashed those hopes on Tuesday.
His absence, as well as the suspension of Sonny Bill Williams, opens the door for midfielder Malakai Fekitoa.
The versatile Anton Lienert-Brown is likely to retain a midfield spot, but the All Blacks coaching staff must now decide between Fekitoa at centre or rookie Ngani Laumape.
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The uncapped Jack Goodhue is also a midfield option, while Rieko Ioane is capable of playing on the wing or at centre.
Elsewhere, winger Waisake Naholo is in a race against time to be fit for Saturday's decider after failing a second-half concussion test in Wellington.
Julian Savea, yet to play in either of the two Tests, waits in the wings.
"He had limited involvement in training today," Foster said.
"We've got a few more hurdles to climb."
Hooker Codie Taylor, meanwhile, has successfully shaken off a shoulder niggle that caused him to seek treatment during the second Test.
