Unlucky ACT Brumbies back Pat McCabe has avoided another serious neck injury but the club will take a cautious approach with his next return after he suffered a head knock on Friday night.
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McCabe got through just 15 minutes before leaving the field dazed following a clash in his first game for seven months.
The Brumbies lost to the Otago Highlanders in Queenstown in their first pre-season trial.
McCabe sent a scare through the camp when he left the field.
He has broken his neck twice since November 2012 and both injuries threatened to end his career.
The 20-Test Wallaby was cleared in December by the ARU to resume contact training after breaking his neck in the series against the British and Irish Lions in June last year.
''He just got a bit dazed, he didn't get knocked out,'' Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham said.
''We'll be very careful. At this stage it's nothing to do with his neck which is good.
''But we're going to tread carefully … we'll take all the precautions and make sure we get all the tests done.
''He played quite well in his time, made a couple of breaks and ran the ball strongly.''
Former Wallabies captain David Pocock made a successful comeback from a knee reconstruction, leading the Brumbies in the first half before being substituted at half-time.
The four-point loss was a shock given where the teams finished on the ladder last year.
The Highlanders won just three games, finishing second-last.
The Brumbies charged to the Super Rugby grand final and lost by five points.
But Larkham was upbeat about the contest with the Brumbies' Wallabies players rested from the opening trial and the Highlanders injecting their full-strength side in the second half - including All Blacks Aaron Smith and Ben Smith.
The Brumbies scored the only try in the match, but the team was ill-disciplined and centre Andrew Smith was sent to the sin bin after being penalised at the ruck.
''The major disappointment is we didn't win,'' Larkham said.
''But a number of new guys played exceptionally well. An area to work on is certainly our discipline.
''We were penalised for mainly being offside … defensively we have to find some more discipline around the ruck.''
The Highlanders booted five penalty goals, opting to take shots at goal whenever possible to get a confidence-boosting win.
The Brumbies kicked two penalties, but turned down chances to instead trial their set plays and attack with lineouts and scrums.
The Brumbies will return to Canberra on Saturday and start preparations for their next trial against an ACT XV at Viking Park next Saturday.
OTAGO HIGHLANDERS 15 bt ACT BRUMBIES 11 (Sam Carter try; Lionel Cronje 2 penalties) at Queenstown Recreation Ground. February 8: ACT Brumbies v ACT XV at Viking Park, 7pm.
