"We might have to replace Trinity with Ziggy," Philpott said, referring to former East Coast prop Ziggy Fisi-Ihoi.
Philpott described Spooner-Neera's selection as another step in the Napier Boys' High School product's quest to play at the Rio Olympics.
"Even if I had missed selection and come home, I don't know if the body would have been up for the triathlon ... trainings have been pretty hard out here this week under Gordon Tietjens," Spooner-Neera said referring to the All Black Sevens coach.
"It was pretty cool to be named, there have been several withdrawals because of injuries," Spooner-Neera said.
Former Magpie Mark Jackman, Kurt Baker, Tomasi Cama, Toby Arnold, Scott Curry and David Raikuna are all unavailable with injuries.
Spooner-Neera said he is expecting to get game time in either the pivot or centre roles during the Hong Kong tournament from March 22-24 and the Tokyo tournament on March 30 and 31.
He has been Mount Maunganui-based with the All Black Sevens since Monday and the travelling 12 players head to Auckland tomorrow for some down-time before travelling to Hong Kong on Sunday.
This selection is the latest highlight for Spooner-Neera in what has been an action-packed month. He has had a stint with the Chiefs as injury cover and he has also signed a two-year contract with the Magpies.
The Havelock North club player represented the New Zealand Secondary Schools last year and is a former Hawke's Bay Ross Shield, under-16 and under-18, representative.
Otago's Matt Faddes is the other newcomer in the All Black Sevens. Tietjens won't be travelling with the team on Sunday as he has an ear infection which prevents him from flying.
Tietjens will arrive in Hong Kong on Thursday.