All Blacks coach Graham Henry says senior lock Ali Williams will almost certainly miss the Tri-Nations series because of ongoing problems with his Achilles tendon.

The injury put a further dampener on an All Blacks squad struggling to muster a fully fit first 15.

Williams missed the season-opening Tests against France but was named to play against Italy this weekend before the injury flared again on Thursday.

He is to see a specialist early next week and if cleared to play in the Tri-Nations which starts next month "it will be a bonus," said Henry, before adding surgery seemed more likely, which would mean a lengthy recovery period.

"He will have to have some sort of operation, I would assume, but we won't know until Tuesday," Henry said.

"It's a disappointment, very frustrating. Very frustrating for him as he hasn't played rugby all year and that's what he lives for.

"It's frustrating for the team because he's a key player, he's world class and he provides a lot of extra."

The latest injury adds to a tough season for the 61-Test lock, who sat out the early Super 14 games with a back problem. When he recovered from that he damaged his Achilles tendon.

It has also been a difficult start to the international year for the All Blacks, who have at least 10 players on their injured roster, including captain Richie McCaw, flyhalf Dan Carter and wing Sitiveni Sivivatu.

Halfback Brendon Leonard, who has not played a Test for nearly two years because of a persistent knee injury, has been cleared to start in Saturday's Christchurch Test against Italy.

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