New Zealand flanker Jerry Collins could miss the remainder of the Hurricanes Super 14 season, but remains on course for the World Cup.
Collins was hospitalised after picking up a neck injury during the 23-13 defeat by the Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday.
However, he was discharged on Saturday and will be given the week off, missing another derby against the Highlanders on Friday.
But with last season’s finalists now out of play-off contention, the All Blacks management may insist the 26-year-old sits out the remainder of the campaign ahead of the summers tournament in France.
Crusaders full-back and international team-mate Leon Macdonald was surprised and pleased his colleague was not seriously injured.
"Every player has to live with the fact they’re always one hit away from being paralysed for life," he said. "And whenever someone gets stretchered off like Collins, what jersey they are in doesn’t matter.
"No one likes to see that. It’s just one of those horrible things about rugby that can happen sometimes. All the guys were pretty worried about him.
"It’s tough when things like that happen but we just needed to get on with the game and find out how Jerry was afterwards."
