The midfield message tough to read

Settling on a centre to partner captain Tana Umaga continues to absorb the All Black selectors in the countdown to Friday's arrival of the Lions.

Mils Muliaina's switch to centre for the June 3 national trial hints at a change in the battle plan, made possible because Leon MacDonald and Soseni Anesi are fullback alternatives.

Last year the panel did not believe they had that luxury.

MacDonald was playing in Japan and they did not think Nick Evans was ready, so Muliaina was kept at fullback.

But with new fullback options and Conrad Smith on the march but yet to impose himself at centre, the trial choices suggest the selectors are still not satisfied with their midfield mix.

Fresh signals for decoding were sent yesterday when the panel unveiled two national trial teams - the Maori squad to play Fiji and the Lions, and the sevens squad.

Exemption for the Crusaders' regulars because of their Super 12 progress has reduced the calibre of the trial in Napier.

However, the selectors have picked 70 players for that game and the Maori matches before they distil them into the All Black squad for the Lions series and the Junior All Blacks.

Last-season All Blacks Joe Rokocoko and Jerome Kaino have been siphoned off to the sevens to try to rediscover some form; Norm Maxwell, Keith Robinson and Xavier Rush have succumbed to injury and offshore contracts.

There is no starting work in the trial for Keven Mealamu, Rodney So'oialo or Jerry Collins.

The Hurricanes duo have been benched to recuperate from their Super 12 efforts, while Mealamu has been placed in cotton wool in case Anton Oliver does not recover from his calf injury.

It was the midfield message, however, that was hardest to read.

All Black Tana Umaga has been paired with usual test fullback Muliaina to oppose the Ma'a Nonu and Smith combination.

The All Black centre tourist from last year, Casey Laulala, one of the seven Crusaders whose workload allowed them to be involved in the trial, has only made the reserves.

"We would like to see Mils have a crack at centre outside Tana. He has played a lot at centre over the years," All Black coach Graham Henry said yesterday.

"So that gives us another string to the bow, if you like, if we have another fullback in the squad.

"Ma'a we would see primarily as a midfield player, second five-eighths or centre, rather than a winger.

"He is an impact player, he can come off the bench in an international and make a difference."

The All Blacks would need 26 players for the start of the Lions series and would require a number of players who could cover a variety of positions.

Some of those players were involved in the Maori squad, which had preference ahead of the trial and All Black test against Fiji on June 10.

The stronger All Black candidates in the Maori squad must be Corey Flynn, Rico Gear, Jono Gibbes, Carl Hayman, Marty Holah, Luke McAlister and Leon MacDonald.

Henry said Rokocoko's omission from the trial was a result of some disappointing Super 12 form. That decision suggests Rokocoko's cousin, Sitiveni Sivivatu, is close to nailing the All Black jersey he could not claim last year because he did not meet residential qualifications.

Henry hoped Oliver might recover from his calf tear to play for Otago against the Lions.

That would be an ideal dress-rehearsal for the test series.

Trial teams

MAORI SQUAD: Backs: Leon MacDonald (Canterbury), Shannon Paku (Wellington), Neil Brew (Otago), Rico Gear (Nelson Bays), Caleb Ralph (Canterbury), Rua Tipoki (Bay of Plenty), Tamati Ellison (Wellington), Riki Flutey (Wellington), David Hill (Waikato), Luke McAlister (North Harbour), Carlos Spencer (Auckland), Craig McGrath (North Harbour), Piri Weepu (Wellington).

Forwards: Wayne Ormond (Bay of Plenty), Thomas Waldrom (Wellington), Daniel Braid (Auckland), Marty Holah (Waikato), Jono Gibbes (captain, Waikato), Angus MacDonald (Auckland), Paul Tito (Taranaki), Sean Hohneck (Waikato), Deacon Manu (Waikato), Greg Feek (Canterbury), Carl Hayman (Otago), Corey Flynn (Canterbury), Scott Linklater (Waikato).

Two players to be added.

SEVENS SQUAD: Orene Ai'i, Jerome Kaino, Joe Rokocoko, Amasio Valence (Auckland), Charles Baxter, Jason Hona, Tanerau Latimer (Bay of Plenty), George Naoupu (Canterbury), Tomasi Komainaua (Manawatu), Marc Camburn, Hayden Reid, Villiame Waqaseduadua (North Harbour), Edwin Cocker (Otago), Mark Ranby (Waikato), Nigel Hunt, Tafai Ioasa (Wellington).