Injury-hit and under pressure, the Blues still command respect from Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett ahead of Friday’s Super Rugby match at Eden Park in Auckland.

With just one win from four starts, the Blues’ miseries are compounded by injuries to key players including All Blacks Isaia Toeava, Jerome Kaino, Keven Mealamu and Anthony Boric.

Winger Rene Ranger and flanker Luke Braid are unavailable due to suspension.

However, suggestions the Blues offer a lame duck opposition met with a rueful smile from Hammett.

“We’re not a team that’s good enough to start being over-confident,” he said on Thursday.

“We’re confident in how we’ve prepared but we know that, like any other team that’s gone through a bit of injury and upset, they’ll come out very hard.”

The prospect of facing former Hurricanes Alby Mathewson, Piri Weepu and Ma’a Nonu, among a clutch of senior players who left at the end of last season, doesn’t concern Hammett.

“Players know each other’s games anyway, and this week’s no different. Players enjoy the big challenges, because you don’t have to put in a lot of work mentally to get up for them.

“They’re there, and they’re there for everyone to see.”

The Hurricanes, coming off a narrow 19-17 loss to the Highlanders last Saturday, know where they need to improve if they want to pick up their third win of the season.

Hammett says discipline around the ruck area would be vital, particularly inside the attacking 22, where penalties proved costly last Saturday at Westpac Stadium.

“It’s around decision making and being smart, because I thought last week we gave away six penalties which were not smart,” he said.

“There were other penalties which could go either way, just with the intensity of that zone, so I can handle those. But I’m not a big fan of the penalties which are pretty simply just dumb.”