All Black lock Isaac Ross looks set to embark on a conditioning programme after he and Canterbury coach, Rob Penney met with All Blacks managament this week.

Ross will not be taken on the tour to Japan and Europe, instead undertaking a strength-building programme while playing for Canterbury in the Air New Zealand Cup.

Ross missed Canterbury's training session on Tuesday due to a bout of flu but Penney would not indicate what Ross' international outlook might be after they met with All Blacks' management.

"[It was a] good discussion, a robust discussion and Isaac's going to hopefully be back with us after after his illness," Penney told stuff.co.nz.

"Unfortunately he's got crook but he's going to be available for us for as long as he's not an All Black. The All Black team will be named the weekend after we play Hawke's Bay [on October 15] so we'll just roll with the punches and see what happens there."

Penney would not venture an opinion on whether Ross should tour with the All Blacks.

"They [the national selectors] will have a lot of considerations. It's irrelevant what I think."