All Blacks captain and lock Scott Barrett and second five-eighths brother Jordie have both been ruled out of the Scotland game with injuries.
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said, "Jordie got a scan today, so we'll find out a little bit more this afternoon and as good as Scott's cut is healing, both of them won't be available for the weekend."
Robertson said the All Blacks are aware of their history against Scotland and will give them full respect.
"We're playing against a Scottish team with eight Lions in it. There are some generational players there, so it's going to be a game for the ages.
"We know their strengths, and they'll know ours. But we'll pick the strongest team we think for a really physical Test match.
"They've got a pretty handy backline. They've got a couple of good jacklers, they can get over the ball, and a couple of good operators in the lineout. They've got a good balance in the squad, and they're spread around a couple of teams, and also playing in the Premiership.
"It's a highly experienced team, with high cohesion and motivated. It's a big weekend."
Scotland coach Gregor Townsend said he can't wait for the Test.
"We don't get to play them that often. We've only played twice in my time [as coach], and they were both great occasions, very good games.
"We know we have to be close to our best to win but that's what we'll be working on in training this week."
Townsend said he didn't think the weight of history would be a factor in the game.
"It will be looking at scenarios in games, whether we're up or we're behind, and how we're together, how we're reacting to errors, how we're reacting to the game.
"But this team will know they have the players in the game to beat anyone, and beating New Zealand as our next opponent. They've also been in two very close games, where we were ahead by about 10 points in the last game, which is only two or three years ago.
"Maybe that weight of history doesn't affect this team because we've had two very competitive fixtures against New Zealand."
Townsend is expecting changes to be made to the All Blacks, but he doesn't believe travel will be an issue. The All Blacks arrived in Scotland on Sunday, having flown from Chicago after their win over Ireland on Saturday.
"They're used to it [travel]," he said.
"They go to South Africa and Argentina for Rugby Championship games. I know they were chartering on Saturday night. They'll probably mix up their team. I don't know, but you'd think that's one way of getting over a game, to play the bench guys or guys who weren't playing."
Scotland warmed up for the All Blacks by beating the USA 85-0 on Saturday, despite the absence of their England- and France-based players who have joined the side to prepare for the All Blacks. The only player missing is Montpellier flanker Alex Masibaka, who has injured his elbow.
