Whitelock backed Taukei'aho to handle his late call up.
"Samisoni has been awesome the past two weeks," Whitelock said following the All Blacks captain's run on Friday. "It's pretty cool for him to do it here at his home ground. He's shown up and tried to learn and grow. It's been awesome watching all the hookers work together – feeling for Colesy but they've got a tight crew there so I'm sure they'll be wishing him all the best.
"It's probably nice for him to have things that are familiar – the changing room, and he's also got some guys out there who he's played a lot of rugby with so it makes that transition a little bit easier even though at times it can be daunting."
Born in Tonga, Taukei'aho impressed New Zealand scouts as captain of the Tonga under-15s side's tour of New Zealand and was offered an international scholarship to Hamilton's St Paul's Collegiate. He has since represented New Zealand at schoolboy level.
The promising hooker, who has played 49 games for the Chiefs since 2007, stands at 1.83m and 115kg and is a strong ball carrier and scrummager.
Taukei'aho declined the chance to represent Tonga at the 2019 World Cup in Japan, and is now in line to make his debut for New Zealand off the bench, with Crusaders hooker Codie Taylor starting.
Coles, meanwhile, will try to recuperate before the Bledisloe Cup opener on August 7, but will not be able to add to his try-scoring feats of last week, where he became the first All Blacks forward to score four tries in a game, with a remarkable 30-minute showing off the bench.
Asked what message he had given Taukei'aho ahead of his debut, Whitelock said: "It's the same advice I got given – just go out there and trust yourself. You've been called in for a reason. It doesn't matter how you get here, he's here now, if he's given the opportunity I'm sure he'll play really well. He's really good with ball in hand and at making big tackles so if he is out there I'm sure we'll see those."
