Man of the match Carter suffered a shoulder injury late in Saturday's 48-18 second Test victory over the Lions, while Mauger was substituted shortly before half-time with a hamstring problem.
With the three-match series already wrapped up thanks to wins in Christchurch and Wellington, All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen was fairly relaxed about the situation.
"Obviously it would have been a bigger blow if we had been going in one-all but we are not so that lessens the blow.
"We have just taken the attitude there is no point risking anybody who is not 100% fit. They are certainly not 100% and you have just got to accept that rugby is a physical game, particularly at that level, and people are going to get injured and up till now we have been pretty lucky.
"It is just something that you have to accept and move on and show faith in the people that will come in and do the job."
Hansen also hinted there may be further changes to the side that handed the Lions their second-heaviest defeat on New Zealand soil, following the 38-6 loss in 1983, with the possibility of outstanding openside flanker Richie McCaw
being rested.
There are a number of options open to coach Graham Henry to fill the void left by Carter and Mauger.
When Mauger went off on Saturday, Mils Muliaina moved from full-back to centre with Tana Umaga shifting in one place and Leon MacDonald coming in at the back.
The powerful Ma'a Nonu is also a possible option to partner Umaga in midfield, as is elusive runner Conrad Smith.
Replacing Carter may be slightly more problematic with Mauger the obvious choice. But MacDonald has played in the fly-half role before and Henry also has Junior All Black Nick Evans waiting in the wings.
Hansen believes the enforced changes for the third Test will ensure any feelings of complacency within the camp are extinguished and expects another bruising, intense battle at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.
"That complacency could have been there on Saturday as well but we didn't have any of that," the former Wales coach said.
"We got away to a slow start but I don't think that was due to complacency - more the way the Lions started.
"Clearly, with some changes having to be made, that will bring in some fresh faces and enthusiasm and the boys are pretty focused on what they want to do. It's a team that wants to play well every time it assembles.
"The third Test will be exactly the same as we got on Saturday. No quarter asked for and none given. They [the Lions] will see it as their opportunity to get some pride and to go home with a Test win. Two-one is better than three zip."
The manner in which the All Blacks have put the Lions to the sword will inevitably earn them the 'favourites' tag for the 2007 World Cup, despite being two years out from the tournament.
However, it is a tag Hansen is happy to have.
"It's good if we are favourites because it means we are being successful. I don't think we should be frightened of the word 'favourite'.
"Two years is a long way away and a lot of things can happen. We have just got to keep working at what we are about and make sure we keep growing.
"If we do that we will deserve to be called favourites because we will have done the job. Then it is a matter of going to the tournament, having a wee bit of luck and doing the job there as well. I would rather be called a favourite than an underdog."
