The hosts have lost several heavies, with injury taking out Daniel Carter and Kieran Read, and the selectors have made other switches as Ireland, after smelling an upset last week, get another chance to prove that form revival was not a one-off.
So on the surface we get to view the international claims of some All Black understudies and how they react, after time away from the centrestage, to one final blast from the Irish.
The only blokes who remain unsighted are Ma'a Nonu, who has been spelled for the series, with props Ben Tameifuna and Wyatt Crockett. Judgment on the props remains a training ground assessment from men like Mike Cron and Steve Hansen, while Nonu is with the squad early in the week then flown home for weekend recuperation.
After Ireland were belted 42-10 in the opening Eden Park international, there was a pessimistic feeling that two more tests could be a hard watch, that Ireland would be another of the Six Nations to arrive without enough sting to cope with their end-of-season trip.
The only wide smiles would have belonged to the bean-counters and marketing folk, who probably did a dance about the tour itinerary with near sellouts at Eden Park and "Ground Full" signs at Addington and Hamilton.
A week later and they might have been able to sell out the Waikato Stadium twice. Ireland had stunned the nation and alarmed the All Blacks, leading by a point at halftime and clinging to a deadlock with 13 minutes left on the stadium clock.
They claimed a man advantage when Israel Dagg went to the bin, but could not make that count and lost to a late Daniel Carter dropped goal.
Like all previous Irish sides, they failed to find that victory which has eluded them since they began combat with the All Blacks in 1905.
For the visitors, this final international is all about how they deal with the psychology of last week's defeat and whether they have enough sting and resilience to gird themselves for a final hurrah. Most of these tourists will never tour New Zealand again. They will host the All Blacks but the strange IRB schedules mean they do not visit here for another 12 years.
After their opening victory, the All Blacks promised more in Christchurch.
That did not eventuate as Ireland found conditions to their liking and a pattern which suited their abilities far more. They frustrated the All Blacks and squeezed them with a much stronger chasing game. They tightened their defence and scrum formation and men like flanker Sean O'Brien, tighthead prop Mike Ross and the midfield gave the test an almighty shake.
Steve Hansen admitted their preparation was not as sharp as they needed.
So was that an aberration by the coaching staff? Did they fail to heed the signs or spot some complacency which invaded the side, or was it more a case that they did not put the correct work into the team? Were some of the players found out? Those questions were part of an exhaustive review.
Back the All Blacks went to basics. They unpicked their tactics, sifted their selections and reworked their coaching ideas. They promised they would make selection changes if they had won the series but probably did not envisage losing Carter and Read from the spine of the side. Now there is an even greater mix of the young and old; this is their time to stand up. Much has been made of Aaron Cruden's class and Sam Cane's potential-now they have a stage upon which to display those characteristics.
After the wobbles of Christchurch, there will be some renewed focus on Richie McCaw's leadership. He has been a strong leader throughout his career, although sometimes you feel his style means he asks his troops to follow him, rather than goading them into action and invention. There will be a bite about his delivery this week, demands they work beside him rather than in his wake. This is a test for the team leaders.
After this test, the players will return to their Super 15 franchises while the All Black selectors ponder their picks for the Rugby Championship segment of their programme.
They have to trim their travelling group by two to 28, which will put more pressure on their wing, lock and propping choices.
Performances tomorrow will count for plenty at that next selection meeting.
