Sam Lousi sidelined with chest injury

The Hurricanes have lost their most experienced lock, Sam Lousi, to a pectoral injury.

This means that Lousi will be out of the Hurricanes' season opener against his former team, the NSW Waratahs, in Sydney on Saturday.

“We’ll work through that in the next couple of days and see where that’s going to go, but he’s definitely not a short-term injury,” said Hurricanes assistant coach Jason Holland.

"He's done his pec, just how serious that is we're figuring out.

"We've just got to be smart around how we manage everyone," Holland continued. 

"They've had limited pre-seasons, so we'll be smart about how much time guys get and who starts. 

"I'd say we'll be very much like the Tahs in that they'll all be involved in some way."