All Blacks prop Craig Dowd, out of rugby since the Super 12 because of injury, has been named in the Auckland squad for the NPC.
Former All Black trialist and prop Mana Otai and ex-North Harbour prop Scott Palmer are also included in a 32-man squad to prepare for this year'sNPC championship.
The Wayne Pivac-coached squad starts training next Monday for lead-up games against North Harbour on August 3 and Canterbury on August 7. The Canterbury match is at the end of a training camp in Blenheim.
Forwards: Xavier Rush, Mark Carter, Finau Maka, Michael Jones, Samui Vahafolau, Charles Riechelmann, Leo Lafaiali'i, Milton Ngaumo, Ben Gissing, Paul Mitchell, Keven Mealamu, James Christian, Grant Hill, Kalau Fukofuka, Mana Otai, Scott Palmer, Craig Dowd, Paul Thomson.
