Queenstown: Wary of aggravating the injury to his right ankle ahead of the World Cup, Sachin Tendulkar will miss India's fourth One-day International against New Zealand on Saturday and, possibly, also the fifth in Wellington on January 8.

Tendulkar, who did not play in the first three One-dayers also after he sprained his right ankle during net practice, is in the midst of his longest absence from the One- day circuit, having already missed 10 games on a trot.

A hamstring injury had kept him out of the seven-match series against West Indies at home before coming to New Zealand.

"Batting in the middle is not a problem," said Tendulkar who is recovering from his injury. "But there is a question of running between the wickets... not only for your runs but for the your partner's as well."

Team physio Andrew Leipus is understandably very cautious on the fitness of Tendulkar and doesn't want him to take any chances with the injury. He has already made it clear that unless he is hundred per cent sure, he would not give the go- ahead to Tendulkar's participation in the matches.

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