Blues captain Luke Braid suffered a shoulder injury during Friday’s match against the Waratahs and is likely to miss this Friday’s game against the Reds.

Brendon O’Connor will be first in line to replace Braid on the openside flank if the skipper doesn’t recover.

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Hooker Keven Mealamu will likely assume the captaincy.

Still with the faintest of hopes of reaching the Super Rugby Finals Series, this weekend’s clash for the Blues against the 2011 champions at Eden Park shapes as a must win game for Sir John Kirwan’s troops.