KEY POINTS:
Daniel Carter has joined the All Blacks training squad in Auckland to play a trial game which will be his only decent hit-out ahead of next week's final Bledisloe Cup test in Hong Kong.
The Canterbury five-eighths has not played any rugby for about six weeks since the
All Blacks annexed the transtasman trophy in Brisbane and has been included in the shadow end-of-year touring group's trial game and is also standing by for this weekend's national championship final.
Carter was a late addition to the group preparing for the match tomorrow against a wider Blues training squad and should see plenty of action, as fellow five-eighths Stephen Donald is still recovering from his rib injury.
Carter's call-up increases the shadow touring squad to 26, with speculation mounting over who will miss the cut when the 35-strong tour party is revealed on Sunday. More than a dozen players involved in the final have played for the All Blacks and are challenging for selection. Others, such as Hosea Gear, Corey Jane, Jeremy Thrush, Kieran Read and Tim Bateman are on the verge of national promotion.
The greatest curiosity looms in the loose forwards, where the selectors will settle on captain Richie McCaw's openside understudy. Tanerau Latimer and Scott Waldrom head the list, while the versatile Liam Messam can cover all three positions.
Other points of contention about the forwards are whether two young props, Jamie Mackintosh and Ben Franks, are chosen, whether Jason Eaton has done enough to demand a recall at lock - and whether the selectors will persevere with Sione Lauaki as one of the No 8s.
Andrew Ellis faces a fitness test on his damaged knee, while there will be intrigue about where Isaia Toeava is picked and who backs up Mils Muliaina at fullback. It will be a matter of whether Jane or another contender has convinced the selectors he is ready for the next level, or whether a utility is picked as cover.
All Blacks training squad
John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Daniel Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Jason Eaton, Ben Franks, Andrew Hore, Richard Kahui, Jerome Kaino, Tanerau Latimer, Sione Lauaki, Jamie Mackintosh, Keven Mealamu, Liam Messam, Mils Muliaina, Josevata Rokocoko, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Adam Thomson, Brad Thorn, Isaia Toeava, Anthony Tuitavake, Scott Waldrom, Ali Williams, Tony Woodcock, Rudi Wulf.