'Landers suffer injury blow ahead of Crusaders battle

INJURY UPDATE: The Highlanders have just been hit with a massive front row blow ahead of Friday’s big South Island derby with the Crusaders.

The Highlanders have already bracketed Liam Squire with Elliot Dixon in the starting XV.

And now the Highlanders are forced to take on Crusaders without Siate Tokolahi.

The tighthead prop, who has been named in the starting XV, has reinjured his right knee that kept him on the sidelines with an MCL problem for six weeks and has been deemed unfit to play this weekend.

He will be assessed over the next few days before any decision is made on his availability in the short term.

The team have not yet confirmed the starting XV but Guy Millar has travelled to Christchurch with the team as a replacement.