Earlier, team manager Michael Kearney offered mixed news on the injury updates as Ireland held their first official briefing.
"Mike Ross is obviously rehabbing from his hamstring tear. His rehab is going well but he has not trained fully and he remains in some doubt for the weekend," he said.
Loosehead prop Cian Healey had practised strongly and loose forward Sean O'Brien was progressing and the selectors hoped he would be available for the first test.
The injury dramas have come after Ireland lost senior lock Paul O'Connell, rugged loosie Stephen Ferris, prop Tom Court and outside backs Tommy Bowe and Luke Fitzgerald from their touring party.
Ireland have been in rugby mode since their pre-season work started 51 weeks ago and this trip follows their six-week visit for the World Cup last year. While none of the squad has played more than 30 matches in that prolonged schedule, they will be suffering some mental fatigue, which may not have them in the best shape to tangle with a new-feel All Black squad.
The bonus is the return of skipper Brian O'Driscoll, who missed a large chunk of the year with injury but has sharpened in the latter stages to peak for his seventh trip to New Zealand. It will be his last, though, as Ireland, under the unusual IRB arrangements, are not rostered to return for 12 years.
When the tourists end this three-test visit in Hamilton, they will have played a record 17 tests this season.
They trained yesterday after shifting some of the travel cobwebs over the weekend with a variety of pursuits like golf and fishing.
Assistant coach Les Kiss expected plenty of heat from the World Cup-winning All Blacks.
"They are the best in the world bar none so we expect them to throw everything at us. They have a proud history at Eden Park and I'm pretty sure they just want to go out there and don't ruin that in any way," he said.
Ireland had beaten the Wallabies 15-6 at Eden Park in the World Cup and that would give them optimism for this weekend's duel at the famous stadium, Kiss said. The Irish coaching staff had watched as much footage of the Super 15 as they could find and suspected the test would offer a fairly open brand of international rugby.
They had done plenty of research on the players but there were a few from left-field.
"We are seeing some talent in their ranks. Sam Cane, the young seven from the Chiefs, is obviously doing some good things, Aaron Smith is a lively character for the Highlanders so it's a good balance of experience, pace and power - just what you expect from the All Blacks," said Kiss.
Savea was another who used his size well and had overcome his problems under the high ball. If he was picked, the All Blacks would have a large and quick backline.
Halfback Eion Reddan said the absence of Andy Ellis from the squad showed how deep the talent ran in New Zealand and he was looking forward to testing his work against Smith or Piri Weepu.
Success for Leinster in Europe this year had helped boost Irish rugby and that sort of achievement helped gloss over issues like the length of the season. "Ulster have done well too and I think people have come here very fresh and looking to push on and achieve something new."
