KEY POINTS:
Ross Filipo, by most counts the 10th rated lock in New Zealand, will make his All Black test debut on Saturday as injuries and paternity leave bite into the ranks of the World Cup favourites.
Experienced lock Chris Jack is unavailable this weekend and for the Tri-Nations start against the Springboks in Durban because his wife is due to give birth to their first child.
Wing Doug Howlett will play against Canada but then remain in New Zealand as his partner is also due to have the couple's first child.
Serious injuries last week have removed locks Ali Williams and Keith Robinson from the Tri-Nations, Jason Eaton and James Ryan fell to earlier season-ending knee injuries and Jono Gibbes is also struggling with knee problems.
Troy Flavell and Reuben Thorne were nominated in the locking pool in the All Black squad while Blues lock Greg Rawlinson, called up like Filipo, is not available because of a head knock he took last week for the Juniors.
After all the shuffling and switches, three players - Sitiveni Sivivatu, Byron Kelleher and Jerry Collins - back up after starting the second test against France.
The 28-year-old 1.96m Filipo will make his test debut with fellow Hurricane prop John Schwalger in a side which will be captained by Reuben Thorne. The 2.02m Williams was a keen observer at training yesterday.
When Filipo returned from the Juniors trip to Tonga last Sunday, he was told of his callup to the national squad and given a playbook to signal his inclusion in the side to play Canada at Hamilton.
Filipo has been able to digest his rapid elevation in the comfort of his home surroundings with the All Blacks in Wellington until tomorrow because the National Fieldays in Hamilton put a squeeze on accommodation.
When the side was picked Conrad Smith was included at centre, although fitness tests yesterday on his hamstring and further assessments today will determine whether he starts ahead of Luke McAlister. Smith aggravated his muscle strain last week and must be an uncertain starter. If he cannot play this weekend he will not travel offshore to the Tri-Nations.
"We are hopeful," backs coach Wayne Smith said, "because we want to see the guy play but we have also got to be careful to see he is spot-on and Conrad will be part of that. I would not like to speculate on the odds."
Fullback Mils Muliaina has persuaded the medical staff he has fully recovered from his hamstring troubles and his ability to cover centre means Ma'a Nonu has been sent away on Junior duty and Rico Gear recalled while Howlett stays at home.
Themes around yesterday's team announcement were paternity leave, locks, injuries and what value either side would get out of Saturday's match at Waikato Stadium.
Coach Graham Henry said Jack and Howlett had total team support for their decisions to be with their partners instead of playing test rugby.
Henry tried to joke that the alternative players was a huge tick for the rotation system. This test would be a different test of the side's character and their ability to deal with injury circumstances which could reappear at the World Cup.
"What do we do, curl up and die or get up and play?" he asked.
Richie McCaw would start from the bench and Chris Masoe would then switch to No 8 in place of Collins who will start there. It was likely Thorne would also get a burst at lock.
Waikato Stadium, 7.35pm Saturday
All Blacks
15 Mils Muliaina
14 Doug Howlett
13 Smith/McAlister
12 Aaron Mauger
11 Sitiveni Sivivatu
10 Daniel Carter
9 Byron Kelleher
8 Jerry Collins
7 Chris Masoe
6 Reuben Thorne (c)
5 Ross Filipo
4 Troy Flavell
3 Neemia Tialata
2 Andrew Hore
1 John Schwalger
Keven Mealamu, Carl Hayman, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw, Piri Weepu, McAlister/Rico Gear, Leon MacDonald
Canada
15Mike Pyke
14J. Mensah-Coker
13Craig Culpan
12David Spicer
11James Pritchard
10Ryan Smith
9M. Williams (c)
8S.M. Stephen
7Stan McKeen
6Colin Yukes
5Mike Burak
4Luke Tait
3Scott Franklin
2Pat Riordan
1 Kevin Tkachuk
Aaron Carpenter, Dan Pletch, Mike Pletch, Josh Jackson, Adam Kleeberger, Dean Van Camp, Ed Fairhurst.
