Tuiali'i out of ANZ Cup play-offs

Out: Mose Tuiali'i will miss the ANZ Cup play-offs

Canterbury will be without influential number eight Mose Tuiali'i for the remainder of their Air New Zealand Cup campaign.

The All Black back row had scans on a neck injury, which revealed no major structural damage of the neck and spine. However later tests confirmed a slight bruising of the spinal cord, requiring a neck brace for three weeks.

He will now miss Friday's quarter-final against Tasman, and any subsequent play-off games Canterbury feature in.

"We're confident Mose will make a full recovery," Canterbury medical director Steve Muir said.

"He will be assessed by specialists at Burwood Spinal Unit on Friday and we'll have more information regarding his ongoing management after that."

Tuiali'i, 27, is joining Japanese club Yamaha at the end of the season, which means he could well have played his last game for Canterbury.

He played 42 times for Canterbury, 68 times for the Crusaders at Super Rugby level, and made nine test appearances for the All Blacks.