All Black captain Richie McCaw has a good chance of recovering in time, but prop Neemia Tialata is a doubtful starter for Saturday's Tri-Nations Test against the Springboks in Durban.

Tialata and McCaw both suffered injuries in New Zealand's 19-28 loss to South Africa in Bloemfontein at the weekend, setbacks that will further damage the Kiwis brittle confidence.

The All Black medical team reported on Sunday that McCaw is expected to overcome a blow to the shoulder - suffered when he tackled Bok centre Jean de Villiers.

However, the medical staff said they will give the tighthead prop, Tialata, at least another day before deciding if he is fit for the next instalment of the Tri-Nations - when the Boks and All Blacks again go head-to-head in Durban.

Tialata was replaced at half-time by Owen Franks, after he received treatment for the knee injury throughout the first half.

If Tialata is ruled out, cover won't be required from New Zealand.

Tighthead specialist John Afoa would be promoted to the matchday 22 and would be charged with covering both sides of the front row.

It appears unlikely the All Blacks will field the same starting 15 in Durban.

"We haven't discussed whether there will be changes but there's likely to be some. I'm not sure what at this stage," Hansen said.

The All Blacks will undergo a more taxing week of training in Durban, having had to tread gently in the lead-up to this the match at the weekend to best adjust from the travel and altitude change.

"We'll have to see how everyone pulls up physically," Hansen said.

"Sometimes it's not about beating each other up at training. It's about working on those little parts of your game and making sure they're 100 percent right.

"It's not about attitude or lack of physicality or lack of character. It's the little parts of our game that we have to get right."

Having had a night to reflect on the performance, Hansen said the team were under no illusions how challenging it will be to topple the Springboks on home soil.

"They're going to be hard to beat, they're a good side.

"But there's still enough confidence in the group that we can do it," he said.

"With five minutes to go we still had a chance to win the game. We turned the ball over and they (centre Jaque Fourie) scored. If we'd hung onto that, I think we probably would have scored."

Hansen said his team's error count could be reduced considerably, which wouldn't allow South Africa to gain such a foothold.

"We can play a lot better than we did from an error point of view.

"But the Boks will also improve, they haven't played for a couple of weeks. They'll benefit from the game as well."