Auckland to welcome back All Blacks

Injured duo Tasesa Lavea and Jamie Helleur will barely be missed as Auckland coach Pat Lam reintroduces a quartet of All Blacks to his backline for Sunday's Air New Zealand Cup rugby match against Tasman at Eden Park.

Centre Helleur, who needed 11 stitches to close a mouth wound sustained after scoring two tries against Manawatu last Saturday, was unlikely to have made the cut if he was injury-free considering the availability of All Blacks Sam Tuitupou and Isaia Toeava.

Tuitupou, the Auckland captain, returns from a hamstring injury suffered against South Africa in the Tri-Nations last month, while Toeava is a logical replacement for Helleur at centre.

Lam also has speedsters Joe Rokocoko and Doug Howlett at his disposal out wide while hooker Keven Mealamu and lock Ali Williams will also see game time against a Tasman pack buoyed by the inclusion of Williams' second row test partner Chris Jack.

Auckland's team will not be named until Friday but it appears Isa Nacewa will move in a spot from second five-eighth to replace Lavea, who could be out for a fortnight after straining a hamstring during their 41-10 win over Manawatu.

Lam's All Blacks contingent trained today and the coach was not anticipating any problems with their temporary places in the squad that has been together for nine weeks.

"I've been doing this for the last three years, we've coped quite well with it in the past," he said.

"We just need to get them up to speed."

Lam said Jack's availability was anticipated and it not cause any major changes to their own planning.

"We prepare as normal. Most coaches knew the (All Blacks) guys were coming back.

"It's great for the competition. If anything finals time has come early."

Former All Blacks flanker Andrew Blowers, who recently became a father for the third time, is available to jostle for a position in a highly competitive loose trio featuring former internationals Brad Mika, Daniel Braid and Jerome Kaino.

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Meanwhile, North Harbour will tomorrow name Dan Carter's understudy Luke McAlister at second five-eighth for their home match against Taranaki at Albany on Saturday afternoon after a request from the All Blacks selection panel.

Harbour coach Allan Pollock will retain Tusi Pisi at pivot, saying he was "quite happy" to assist the All Blacks planning for next year's World Cup.

Loosehead prop Tony Woodcock is also available for Harbour, while the Taranaki pack will be steeled by the return of hooker Andrew Hore and lock Jason Eaton.

Pollock expected explosive No 8 Nick Williams to be fit after missing the competition opener against Tasman in Blenheim with a hamstring injury. Francis Stowers was a late replacement, scoring two tries as Harbour triumphed 33-27.

- NZPA