Flying Fijians hopeful that Botia will play on Saturday while Sau ruled out

Fiji Airways Flying Fijians Coach Vern Cotter says they are hopeful that captain Levani Botia will be able to play this weekend while Eroni Sau has been ruled out due to an injury.

According to Cotter, Botia suffered a knee strain last Saturday, and is expected to undergo a scan today.

Cotter says it is a 50/50 situation with Botia.

Botia was very vocal last Saturday, questioning the 50/50 calls by the referee and also made some big hits most notably on All Blacks substitute, Damian McKenzie.

Fiji battered and bruised the All Blacks in the first test last Saturday before losing 57-23.

Cotter says the side's best performance against the All Blacks in Dunedin was a good start, but they want to get better.

Cotter says the coaching team was happy with the effort from Fiji who had put themselves around the park and it was a performance they could build on.

Fiji will play the All Blacks in the second test in Hamilton at 7.05pm Saturday.