KEY POINTS:
World Cup rugby hopeful Conrad Smith will take the next step on his path to an All Blacks recall on Friday night.
Smith has been named to start at centre for a Wellington 15 in an Air New Zealand Cup pre-season match against Waikato at Porirua Park.
After struggling with hamstring problems throughout the latter part of the Super 14, Smith played 60 minutes for his club side last Saturday and may rejoin the All Blacks squad next week for the Tri-Nations test against South Africa in Christchurch on July 14.
Wellington 15: Shannon Paku, Tu Umaga-Marshall, Conrad Smith, Tamati Ellison, Hosea Gear, Jimmy Gopperth, Alby Mathewson, Thomas Waldrom, Serge Lilo, Faifili Levave, Bernie Upton, Api Naikatini, Anthony Perenise, Tone Kopelani, Jacob Ellison.
Reserves: Francis Saumanutafa, Joe Hill, Robert Fruean, Daniel Kirkpatrick, Nick Risdon, Alex Tulou, Tom Harding, Stephen Bradshaw, Jamie Parkinson, Arden David, Ged Robinson.
Waikato 15: Armyn Sanders, Jared Payne, Watene Waenga, Roimata Hansell-Pune, Henry Speight, Willie Ripia, David Bason, Liam Messam, Matt Blain, Steven Setephano, Toby Lynn, Jono Gibbes, Nathan White, Tom Willis, Craig West.
Reserves: James Kamana, Jackson Willison, Dwayne Sweeney, Daniel Teka, Steven Bates, Mark Burman, Ben Paurini, Kent Fife, Andre Ellison, Vern Kamo, Aled de Malmanche.
- NZPA
