Problem with back reference

[cdlaforc]

Hello,
I'm trying to use back references to replace the a piece of text in the middle of a string with a different number without having a space between the back reference and the number. In the code bellow backreference 3 is working, but not 1. I believe it is because it is right up against the number I want in between back reference 1 and 3.

$AIP=~s/^(AIP\|.*?\|.*?\|)(.*?)(\|.*)$/$114000589$3/;

Let me know if you can offer any help.
Thanks,

Chris.

 

[MillerH]

Use ${1} to explicitly specify what the correct variable is to be interpolated.

- Miller