The loose forward suffered a minor hamstring injury when he returned to training in January, which put him behind in his fitness.
Hurricanes coach John Plumtree did not want to risk him at this early stage, meaning he will be sidelined alongside first-five Beauden Barrett, who is serving one of his All Blacks leave weeks as he returns from his honeymoon.
"He [Fifita] came back from leave and was OK, but he did his hamstring at training, which put him on the back foot," Plumtree said.
