The All Blacks have handed a debut to Highlanders' lock Jarrad Hoeata for the one-off test with Fiji in Dunedin on Friday.
The former sevens star will be joined in the engine room by veteran Ali Williams who starts his first game for the side since November 2008 and both will be looking to establish themselves in the side ahead of the team's Tri-Nations opener against South Africa in Wellington on July 30th. Fans of online betting sites will be keeping a close eye on their progress.
Boss Graham Henry is using the match to gauge the form of a number of fringe players, as well as assess the fitness of the likes of Williams ahead of the aforementioned Tri-Nations and afterward the World Cup which the country will host in the autumn.
Fly-half Colin Slade has been given the nod in the number ten jersey after recovering from a broken jaw while first choice Dan Carter is expected to appear from the bench while Carter's Crusaders' teammate Wyatt Crockett has been recalled after almost 20 months away from the side.
Despite the seemingly weakened line-up, Henry has rejected claims of complacency amongst his players, especially following fierce rivals Australia's shock defeat to another Pacific Island nation Samoa last Sunday. It was a huge upset in the online sports betting.
"This is an important Test for us as we kick off this year's Test season," Henry said. "We have got some real competition for places and it's exciting for those players picked and they will keen to put their best foot forward.
Henry's side will be looking to build momentum going into the Tri-Nations as they look to win their second World Cup crown after a number of painful near misses.
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