Alex Boone has said that the San Francisco 49ers will be prioritising the protection of Colin Kaepernick in their opening game of the 2013 regular season.

The quarterback rushed for 181 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns last time the NFC West side faced the Green Bay Packers, who travel to Candlestick Park on Sunday.

The guard told the team's website: "Nobody ever touches Kap. As an offensive lineman, that's always our number one rule. For us, it's going to be play our game and be physical early and keep them off of Kap."

Packers linebacker Clay Matthews told ESPN: "One of the things that the referees have told us is that when these quarterbacks carry out the fakes, they lose their right as a quarterback, a pocket-passing quarterback, the protection of a quarterback. So with that, you do have to take your shots on the quarterback, and obviously they're too important to their offense."

The 49ers have won their last two games against the Packers.