The All Blacks are waiting on a report on wing Julian Savea's right knee after he hurt it during training this morning.
The left wing caught a high cross kick on the pitch near the team's Castleknock base on the outskirts of Dublin and landed awkardly. It appeared that he tried to pivot but his studs were caught in the turf and he twisted his knee.
Savea was immediately seen by the team's medical staff and he watched the rest of the session on the sideline with an ice pack on his sore joint.
Charles Piutau, whom coach Steve Hansen wanted to rest due to his high recent workload, ran on the left wing in Savea's absence and will probably start there against Ireland at Aviva Stadium on Monday morning if Savea is ruled out.
Cory Jane, who returned from his injury break against France and didn't play in last weekend's victory over England, is on the right wing.
Meanwhile, Dan Carter might be forced to start his sabbatical by rehabilitating from surgery on his injured Achilles.
Carter, cursed by almost constant injuries over the past 18 months, suffered his latest when hurting his right lower leg against England at Twickenham last weekend.
Coach Steve Hansen said the star first five was "still sore".
He was waiting on a scan to tell him whether he needs surgery