All Blacks: Henry keeps his options open for Cruden's cover

The search for Aaron Cruden's backup ends today with Graham Henry set to name a replacement. Photo / Getty Images

Rookie first five-eighths Aaron Cruden will start his first All Black test next week against the Wallabies and his deputy will be revealed today.

Cruden carried the understudy role to Daniel Carter this season, but ankle surgery for the side's premier pivot and the Tri-Nations series victory means Cruden will begin the next test in Sydney on September 12.

Coach Graham Henry announced Cruden's promotion a while ago, but has kept his options open about a bench player. Three players are probably in the frame - Luke McAlister, Colin Slade and Mike Delany.

Henry travelled to Rotorua to watch the last round of the national championship where McAlister played for North Harbour opposite Delany who was making his comeback from shoulder surgery for Bay of Plenty.

Delany looked in good shape, though his goalkicking was rusty while McAlister had mixed results before he shifted to midfield.

Meanwhile Slade was guiding Canterbury to a strong performance against Auckland as he kept another would-be national five-eighths prospect Stephen Brett on the bench.

Other options might be Southland's Robbie Robinson or to shift Piri Weepu out a place from halfback and bring in Alby Mathewson.

McAlister has test experience. Since Henry first picked him in 2005, he has played 30 tests in several All Black stints, interrupted by injury and a club deal in England. He was also called in briefly, as cover for Carter this season in Hamilton.

Both he and Delany went on last year's end-of-year tour with Delany making his test debut as first five-eighths against Italy while McAlister played in midfield.

Slade was chosen as first five-eighths for the Junior All Blacks last year and both he and Brett were asked to train with the All Blacks as backup when there were other injury worries.

All the candidates will play in this weekend's national championship while Cruden has been spelled ahead of his first test start after five appearances this season from the bench.

The All Blacks have won 14 straight tests and are eyeing the world record 17-test streak for senior test nations they share with the Springboks. After Sydney, they play the Wallabies again in Hong Kong before the start of another their Grand Slam attempt.

A squad of 30 players will travel, with Henry keen to challenge the bulk of that group to start in some of the tests.