Tim Bateman's frustrating rugby season has extended into Canterbury's first defence of the Ranfurly Shield with an ankle injury keeping the midfielder out of Friday's night's clash with Hawke's Bay in Christchurch.
The first try scorer in Canterbury's 33-20 shield-lifting victory in Hamilton last Saturday night, Bateman wassidelined by halftime with an ankle injury.
Scans this week confirmed he sustained ligament damage and will be out for a minimum of three weeks.
The sixth round Air NZ Cup match against Waikato was his second start of the campaign after he had been ruled out with a hip flexor injury suffered during the pre-season against North Harbour.
"It's disappointing for Tim, especially as he'd already missed a fair bit of the campaign due to injury," Canterbury coach Rob Penney said.
Hamish Gard, who replaced Bateman at Waikato Stadium, gets to nod to start outside pivot Stephen Brett while Ben Nowell, used at second five-eighth earlier in the competition, comes on to the bench.
"We're confident Hamish and Ben can do a job for us. Hamish played really well when he came on against Waikato," Penney said.
"We'll be looking for more of the same type of impact against Hawke's Bay."
Otherwise Penney can field the same starting line-up responsible for kick starting Canterbury's 12th tenure.
On the bench Nowell has been joined by fellow newcomers to the bench, back-up hooker Steve Fualau and prop Mike Smith.
Fualau takes over from Mikaele Tuu'u while Smith covers the absence of Ben May (ankle).
Hawke's Bay head to Christchurch tomorrow after naming their team.
Experienced midfielder Jason Shoemark is likely to return providing he passes a medical after suffering concussion against Counties-Manukau on August 23.
The Magpies lost their last outing 11-38 to Auckland in Napier last Thursday.
Canterbury Scott Hamilton, Rico Gear, Casey Laulala, Hamish Gard, Paul Williams, Stephen Brett, Kevin Senio, Mose Tuiali'i, Johnny Leo'o Kieran Read, Kevin O'Neill , Isaac Ross, Campbell Johnstone, Corey Flynn (captain), Wyatt Crockett.
Reserves: Steve Fualau, Mike Smith, Michael Paterson, Hayden Hopgood, Tyson Keats, Ben Nowell, Steven Yates.
