The All Blacks captain Kieran Read is not expected to make his first appearance in Super Rugby for the Crusaders for another three weeks.
Read and fellow All Blacks forward Sam Whitelock had already been granted an extended break which will keep them out of the first four weeks of the competition with an eye to keeping them fresh for the Rugby World Cup in Japan later this year.
All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor had also been kept in cotton wool for the first three weeks of Super Rugby, although none have really been required with the Crusaders unbeaten after the first three weeks.
All Blacks skipper Kieran Read is still a few weeks away from Super rugby. Photo: Photosport
"Reado is two or three, probably, weeks away," said Crusaders assistant coach Jason Ryan.
"We are not 100 per cent sure yet.
"We will just see how he goes. He is back into his training, and so forth. We are pretty confident."
Ryan admitted that the decision to keep Read sidelined was a mix from both the Crusaders and All Blacks.
"A bit of both," he said when asked who had the final decision. "We can't sort of say much more than that.
"He is looking good, training today and jumping in the lineouts and he had a good week last week."
The Crusaders face the winless Chiefs in Christchurch on Saturday, with Taylor likely to be considered for that match, Ryan added.
Whitelock may come into contention for their clash with the Highlanders in Dunedin on March 16, with Read possibly travelling to Wellington to face the Hurricanes on March 29.
The Crusaders also received some welcome news on Monday with Super Rugby's ruling body SANZAAR acknowledging that match officials had made an error in reducing the nine-times champions to 14 men for the final six minutes of their 22-12 victory over the Reds.
-AAP