New Zealand Maori flanker Daniel Braid and first five-eighth Stephen Brett are doubtful for Saturday's third round Pacific Nations Cup match against Samoa in Hamilton.

Both have strained leg muscles following Saturday's 11-7 win over Fiji on a water-logged Churchill park in Lautoka.

Coach Donny Stevenson said his team's superior game in the set pieces helped them edge Fiji but it was a hard game right to the end as Fiji could have had a game but it was their scrum that was the deciding factor.

In this week's Pacific Nations Cup games the Flying Fijians travel to Tokyo to meet Japan, the New Zealand Maoris host Samoa in Hamilton and Australia A host the Tongans in Sydney.