After going off the boil in recent weeks, Rieko Ioane has been asked to cool his heels on the Blues bench for their Super Rugby match against the Force.
The demotion of highly-promising centre Ioane is one of two changes to the team for Saturday's match at Eden Park.
It is also the first real career setback for the 20-year-old sevens star, who played two Tests on last year's All Blacks tour to Europe and opened the Super Rugby season with a blistering hat-trick against the Rebels in Melbourne.
He has been less effective since, prompting Blues coach Tana Umaga to promote TJ Faiane to inside centre and shift the in-form George Moala to centre.
The Blues have suffered losses to three Kiwi opponents this season but will be encouraged that their two hefty wins have come against overseas opposition.
The Force, who are coming off a heavy loss to the Crusaders, have won just once in 10 clashes with the Blues.
The Blues face Western Force at 4.15pm Saturday.
In other matches, the Highlanders meet the Rebels at 6.35pm tomorrow, the Hurricanes will take on the Reds at 8.45pm Saturday, the Chiefs clash with the Bulls at 6.35pm Saturday and the Waratahs will face the Crusaders at 6.05pm Sunday.
