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All Blacks captain Tana Umaga will go head to head with Ma'a Nonu at second five-eighths while regular fullback Mils Muliaina has been named at centre for the national trial in Napier on June 3.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry and his selectors have named experiemental looking line-ups as they sift through a huge second tier of talent in this match.
Norm Maxwell has been left out with the selectors casting their locking sights on young second rowers like James Ryan, Bernie Upton, Ross Kennedy and Kev O'Neil.
Another to fall from grace has been Sammy Tuitupou who was an integral part of last year's Tri Nations campaign in the All Blacks midfield.
The trial has loomed as an increasingly clouded affair as other sides take priority.
The New Zealand Maori side had first call on players and their coach Matt Te Pou snapped up several leading All Blacks contenders, naming 12 past or present internationals in his squad.
The bulk of the Crusaders have been excused trial duties with Henry giving them a week off after their Rebel Sport Super 12 final appearance against the Waratahs in Christchurch on Saturday night.
With so many red and blacks in the All Blacks frame, their absence has left this looking more like a B trial.
And it may well prove that way with the selectors also having to choose a Junior All Blacks team in the coming weeks. The Junior All Blacks play Queensland and two matches against Australia A while the Lions tour.
But there have clearly been some movers and shakers in their eyes from another solid Super 12 effort by the New Zealand sides.
Front rowers Derren Witcombe, Campbell Johnstone and John Afoa, along with the locking contenders have come into the spotlight.
The decision to move Nonu into the midfield is surprising given he has played virtually the whole season on the left wing for the Hurricanes and featured there on his All Blacks recall last year.
Muliaina has had a firm grip on the All Blacks No 15 jersey for the past two seasons although he was moved to centre for several games during the Rebel Sport Super 12 as injuries hit the Blues this year.
His shift there in the trial teams allows the selectors to look at his fellow Blues utility Ben Atiga and exciting Chiefs speedster Sosene Anesi in the fullbacks positions.
Chiefs pivot Stephen Donald has gained a starting jersey opposite Nick Evans and promising Hurricnaes youngster Jimmy Gopperth gains a place on the bench. Veteran first five-eighths Andrew Mehrtens is also in the reserves.
Scott Hamilton and Brent Ward have gained wing berths but Doug Howlett and Sitiveni Sivivatu looked the favoured players out wide.
The Probables will be coached by the All Blacks coaching staff, with the Possibles to be coaches by the Junior All Blacks' coaches, Colin Cooper and Ian Foster.
Henry noted that while several leading contenders for the test squad would be with the New Zealand Maori team, the trial still held an important place in an on-going selection process.
"The trial gives more of our leading players the chance to press for a place. We have an All Blacks team to pick and also the Junior All Blacks. We face a demanding test schedule this year and we're likely to need more than just 22 players. This is a good time for players to put up their hands."
Henry also noted that several Crusaders' players have been included in the trial.
"These are players who have displayed good form and deserve a place in the trial. Although the Crusaders are involved in the Rebel Sport Super 12 final, these guys should be reasonably fresh given their playing time over the course of the season," said Henry.
The following players were not considered due to injury: Tasesa Lavea, Hoani MacDonald, Anton Oliver, Niva Ta'auso, Neemia Tialata and Anthony Tuitavake.
Probables: 1 Tony Woodcock, 2 Derren Witcombe, 3 Campbell Johnstone, 4 Bernie Upton, 5 Ali Williams, 6 Sione Lauaki, 7 Craig Newby, 8 Steven Bates, 9 Byron Kelleher, 10 Nick Evans, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 12 Tana Umaga (c), 13 Mils Muliaina, 14 Doug Howlett, 15 Sosene Anesi. Reserves: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Clarke Dermody, 18 Kevin O'Neill, 19 Rodney So'oialo, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Andrew Mehrtens, 22 Seilala Mapusua.
Possibles: 1 Saimone Taumoepeau , 2 Andrew Hore (c), 3 John Afoa, 4 Ross Kennedy, 5 James Ryan, 6 Chris Masoe 7 Josh Blackie, 8 Nick Williams, 9 Steve Devine, 10 Stephen Donald, 11 Brent Ward, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 13 Conrad Smith, 14 Scott Hamilton, 15 Ben Atiga. Reserves: 16 Tone Kopelani, 17 Carl Hoeft, 18 Tom Donnelly, 19 Jerry Collins, 20 Kevin Senio, 21 Jimmy Gopperth, 22 Casey Laulala.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry and his selectors have named experiemental looking line-ups as they sift through a huge second tier of talent in this match.
Norm Maxwell has been left out with the selectors casting their locking sights on young second rowers like James Ryan, Bernie Upton, Ross Kennedy and Kev O'Neil.
Another to fall from grace has been Sammy Tuitupou who was an integral part of last year's Tri Nations campaign in the All Blacks midfield.
The trial has loomed as an increasingly clouded affair as other sides take priority.
The New Zealand Maori side had first call on players and their coach Matt Te Pou snapped up several leading All Blacks contenders, naming 12 past or present internationals in his squad.
The bulk of the Crusaders have been excused trial duties with Henry giving them a week off after their Rebel Sport Super 12 final appearance against the Waratahs in Christchurch on Saturday night.
With so many red and blacks in the All Blacks frame, their absence has left this looking more like a B trial.
And it may well prove that way with the selectors also having to choose a Junior All Blacks team in the coming weeks. The Junior All Blacks play Queensland and two matches against Australia A while the Lions tour.
But there have clearly been some movers and shakers in their eyes from another solid Super 12 effort by the New Zealand sides.
Front rowers Derren Witcombe, Campbell Johnstone and John Afoa, along with the locking contenders have come into the spotlight.
The decision to move Nonu into the midfield is surprising given he has played virtually the whole season on the left wing for the Hurricanes and featured there on his All Blacks recall last year.
Muliaina has had a firm grip on the All Blacks No 15 jersey for the past two seasons although he was moved to centre for several games during the Rebel Sport Super 12 as injuries hit the Blues this year.
His shift there in the trial teams allows the selectors to look at his fellow Blues utility Ben Atiga and exciting Chiefs speedster Sosene Anesi in the fullbacks positions.
Chiefs pivot Stephen Donald has gained a starting jersey opposite Nick Evans and promising Hurricnaes youngster Jimmy Gopperth gains a place on the bench. Veteran first five-eighths Andrew Mehrtens is also in the reserves.
Scott Hamilton and Brent Ward have gained wing berths but Doug Howlett and Sitiveni Sivivatu looked the favoured players out wide.
The Probables will be coached by the All Blacks coaching staff, with the Possibles to be coaches by the Junior All Blacks' coaches, Colin Cooper and Ian Foster.
Henry noted that while several leading contenders for the test squad would be with the New Zealand Maori team, the trial still held an important place in an on-going selection process.
"The trial gives more of our leading players the chance to press for a place. We have an All Blacks team to pick and also the Junior All Blacks. We face a demanding test schedule this year and we're likely to need more than just 22 players. This is a good time for players to put up their hands."
Henry also noted that several Crusaders' players have been included in the trial.
"These are players who have displayed good form and deserve a place in the trial. Although the Crusaders are involved in the Rebel Sport Super 12 final, these guys should be reasonably fresh given their playing time over the course of the season," said Henry.
The following players were not considered due to injury: Tasesa Lavea, Hoani MacDonald, Anton Oliver, Niva Ta'auso, Neemia Tialata and Anthony Tuitavake.
Probables: 1 Tony Woodcock, 2 Derren Witcombe, 3 Campbell Johnstone, 4 Bernie Upton, 5 Ali Williams, 6 Sione Lauaki, 7 Craig Newby, 8 Steven Bates, 9 Byron Kelleher, 10 Nick Evans, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 12 Tana Umaga (c), 13 Mils Muliaina, 14 Doug Howlett, 15 Sosene Anesi. Reserves: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Clarke Dermody, 18 Kevin O'Neill, 19 Rodney So'oialo, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Andrew Mehrtens, 22 Seilala Mapusua.
Possibles: 1 Saimone Taumoepeau , 2 Andrew Hore (c), 3 John Afoa, 4 Ross Kennedy, 5 James Ryan, 6 Chris Masoe 7 Josh Blackie, 8 Nick Williams, 9 Steve Devine, 10 Stephen Donald, 11 Brent Ward, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 13 Conrad Smith, 14 Scott Hamilton, 15 Ben Atiga. Reserves: 16 Tone Kopelani, 17 Carl Hoeft, 18 Tom Donnelly, 19 Jerry Collins, 20 Kevin Senio, 21 Jimmy Gopperth, 22 Casey Laulala.
