Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd has admitted that the injured Nehe Milner-Skudder is in a race against time to be fit to face the touring British and Irish Lions later this year.

Milner-Skudder has hardly kicked a ball since being named 2015 World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year, picking up a World Cup winner's medal in the process, having suffered a shoulder injury in the early rounds of Super Rugby last year.

Having worked his way back to fitness over the off-season, Milner-Skudder picked up another injury - this time in his foot - against the Chiefs on March 10.

Speaking on Newstalk ZB, Boyd spoke of Milner-Skudder's injury woes before adding that he would struggle to be match fit once the Lions arrive.

"We initially thought six weeks, so post the bye that's coming up after Blues and Brumbies," Boyd said.

"It's one of those ones that he's worked incredibly hard to keep fit and strong and healthy in other ways, but he's got a wound that's not helping him at the moment."

"He may be ready to come in at the back end of that, he may not."

"I think [Milner-Skudder] will be available, but he won't have played a whole lot of rugby."