New Zealand have delayed naming their squad for the Tri-Nations in order to give four injured players more recovery time.

Selectors are hoping the players will make a rapid recovery after sustaining knocks during the All Black's 68-18 defeat of Fiji on Saturday.

The squad, which was due to be announced on Monday, will now be named on Friday.

The players hoping to be fit in time to face Australia and South Africa later this month are:

• Centre Tana Umaga, who suffered medial ligament damage
• Full-back Leon MacDonald, who has a gashed temple
• Loose forward Taine Randell, who has a calf strain
• Fly-half Andrew Mehrtens, who has a nose injury

Merhtens was hurt by a high tackle from his opposite number Nicky Little that earned the Fijiian a three week ban.

To cover the injuries, the selection panel added three players to the squad which will undergo a four day training camp in Hanmer Springs, 150km north-west of Christchurch.

They are Canterbury utility back Ben Blair, Otago centre Paul Steinmetz and Canterbury loose forward Sam Broomhall.