Auckland's Daniel Braid yesterday received his long-awaited All Black recall.
It is the openside's second chance at international level. He last played for the All Blacks at the 2003 World Cup.
Braid replaces Chris Masoe as injury cover for flanker Richie McCaw after successfully getting through Auckland's RanfurlyShield match against Poverty Bay on Tuesday and club rugby over the weekend.
A calf injury ruled him out of the New Zealand Maori Pacific Nations Cup campaign but that has healed and it is likely the fetcher will play in Saturday's opening Bledisloe Cup match against the Wallabies in Sydney.
His status as McCaw's backup was confirmed when he was named in the All Blacks' train-on squad at the end of the Super 14, but he initially thought the calf strain he suffered against Fiji on June 14 would rule him out of the Tri-Nations.
After spending so long in his shadow, watching McCaw damage a knee ligament against England just a week after his own injury had been hard to take, Braid admitted.
Meanwhile, McCaw rejoins the team in Wellington this week and will resume training as he recovers from an ankle sprain. He said at the weekend the injury was healing well and he thought he could be back for the second Bledisloe Cup match against Australia in Auckland on August 2.
Waikato's Kevin O'Neill will also train with the All Blacks squad this week.
O'Neill joined the All Blacks squad for the second test of the Tri-Nations against South Africa after lock Brad Thorn was suspended. While Thorn is now available for selection, O'Neill stays with the squad as cover for Ali Williams.
Williams is expected to be available for Saturday's test in Sydney, despite an ankle sprain, and O'Neill remains with the All Blacks as a precaution.
The All Blacks train in Wellington this week and fly to Sydney on Thursday.
