Sitiveni Sivivatu will be sidelined for at least two weeks with an eye injury © Getty Images

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Features: Preparing for the unexpected

Matches: New Zealand 30 - 14 Australia

Players/Officials: Israel Dagg | Richard Kahui | Sitiveni Sivivatu | Isaia Toeava | Tony Woodcock

Tournaments/Tours: Tri Nations

Teams: New Zealand

New Zealand winger Sitiveni Sivivatu is set to miss the All Blacks' next Tri-Nations clash against South Africa with a fractured eye socket.

Sivivatu scored the try which sealed the victory for the All Blacks against Australia on Saturday ten minutes into the second half, but he was forced from the field four minutes later with the eye injury.

The All Blacks face South Africa in Port Elizabeth in two weeks time and the winger looks likely to miss out but should return for New Zealand's clash with the Wallabies in Brisbane.

"He's got a fractured eye socket which is not good," coach Graham Henry said. "He probably will miss South Africa but probably will be right for Brisbane."

However the All Blacks, who have won their opening two Tri-Nations fixtures, could be bolstered by the return of several players from injury for the South Africa game. Prop Tony Woodcock is among them, though he missed North Harbour's match against Auckland after picking up a slight hamstring injury in a midweek match.

"It's unbelievable -- I didn't think he ran fast enough to get one of those -- and medical staff don't want to risk it," Henry said. "It's not serious, but if he played too quickly on it it could go, so we're not taking a risk. He's played 80 tests, so he knows what he's doing. He won't play the whole game, but we just need to get him back in the fold."

Outside back Israel Dagg played club rugby for Hawke's Bay on Saturday, while Isaia Toeava played for Auckland against North Harbour on Sunday, and centre Richard Kahui is set to play for Waikato against Canterbury on Wednesday.

Henry said all of those players would head to South Africa barring injury, particularly as they needed game time before the World Cup squad is announced. "We have to name it the Tuesday before the Australian test, so that's pretty important that they play," he said.

The All Blacks can take 26 players to South Africa but Henry said it was likely 24 would go as he didn't think there was any point taking people who would not be playing.