Augustine Pulu has been called into the All Blacks squad for this weekend's Bledisloe Cup finale at Eden Park.
The Counties Manukau halfback replaces Aaron Smith who stood down from selection.
Assistant coach Ian Foster says Pulu would unlikely force selection for the match day 23.
He says they've got two halfbacks who're going to be in the squad unless injury, so it's bringing that other person up to speed.
TJ Perenara started in Aaron Smith's absence against South Africa, with Tawera Kerr-Barlow on the bench.