Crusaders five-eighth Dan Carter has failed a fitness test on his injured hip and will miss Saturday's Super 14 rugby match against the Cheetahs.

All Blacks playmaker Carter will be replaced in the No.10 jersey by Auckland draft payer Daniel Bowden, with wider training squad winger Tu Umaga-Marshall coming into the team's reserves.

Carter picked up the injury, which is expected to be only a short-term problem, early in the week.

He was tested at the Crusaders captain's run on Friday morning and a decision was made to withdraw him from the match, the Crusaders said in a statement.

Meanwhile, bench halfback Andy Ellis has also been ruled out.

He missed last week's win over the Waratahs with concussion and was bracketed with Willi Heinz for tomorrow's match, but wasn't deemed ready to return.

Crusaders: Colin Slade, Jared Payne, Tim Bateman, Ryan Crotty, Sean Maitland, Daniel Bowden, Kahn Fotuali'i, Thomas Waldrom, Richie McCaw (capt), George Whitelock, Sam Whitelock, Chris Jack, Ben Franks, Ti'i Paulo, Wyatt Crockett. Res: Daniel Perrin, Owen Franks, Brad Thorn, Jonathan Poff, Willi Heinz, Tu Umaga-Marshall, Zac Guildford

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