The NSW Waratahs have placed Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in cotton wool, refusing to risk their superstar attacker in a must-win Super Rugby Pacific showdown with the Brumbies.
After only returning three weeks ago from a hamstring tear, Suaalii was a late scratching from last Saturday's season-saving 50-35 victory over the Fijian Drua in Suva.
Coach Dan McKellar on Wednesday said while Suaalii's latest setback wasn't serious, it was too "high-risk" to rush the code-hopping game-breaker back to face the Brumbies in Sydney on Friday night.
"He was a possibility. If it's a grand final, you'll probably roll him out," McKellar said.
"The travel has probably taken its toll. When he's sitting in economy class for a fair amount of time, a long travel day off the back of playing in Dunedin as well, that's probably played a role in where he's at.
