Concerns are mounting over the fitness of senior All Blacks Sam Whitelock and Ryan Crotty after both were again omitted by the Crusaders.

Veteran lock Whitelock was named to lead the All Blacks in the three-Test series against France starting in Auckland next week

However, he will miss a third straight Super Rugby match because of concussion when the Crusaders face the Chiefs in Hamilton.

It is the second straight omission for Crotty, whose head knock suffered against the Blues continues a worrying trend for the accomplished inside centre.

Whitelock sat out most of an All Blacks camp in Christchurch this week but Crusaders coach Scott Robertson said the 96-Test veteran had made “massive improvement”, along with Crotty.

“They weren’t quite ready so we’re giving them another week to come right,” Robertson said.

Missing from the team who beat the Hurricanes last weekend is Wallabies loose forward wannabe Pete Samu, who was forced off with a head knock.

In better news for the Crusaders, All Blacks prop Joe Moody returns from suspension while wing Israel Dagg and loose forward Jordan Taufua also start after overcoming injuries.

The Chiefs have made no change to the starting side who saw off the Waratahs 39-27 last weekend, while All Blacks flanker Sam Cane is named on the bench after missing the last four games with an abdominal strain.

The Chiefs (8-4) are third in the New Zealand conference and 13 points behind the leading Crusaders with a game in hand.

They can set up a thrilling finish to the conference in July if they maintain their perfect record in Hamilton this season and end the Crusaders’ nine-match winning streak.

Chiefs: Solomon Alaimalo, Toni Pulu, Anton Lienert-Brown, Charlie Ngatai (co-capt), Sean Wainui, Damian McKenzie, Brad Weber, Liam Messam, Mitchell Karpik, Luke Jacobson, Michael Allardice, Brodie Retallick, Angus Ta’avao, Nathan Harris, Karl Tu’inukuafe. Res: Liam Polwart, Sam Prattley, Jeff Thwaites, Jesse Parete, Sam Cane, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Marty McKenzie, Shaun Stevenson.

Crusaders: David Havili, Israel Dagg, Seta Tamanivalu, Jack Goodhue, George Bridge, Richie Mo’unga, Bryn Hall, Jordan Taufua, Matt Todd (capt), Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Quinten Strange, Scott Barrett, Michael Ala’alatoa, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody. Reserves: Andrew Makalio, Wyatt Crockett, Donald Brighouse, Luke Romano, Ethan Blackadder, Mitchell Drummond, Mitchell Hunt, Jone Macilai.