Waikato has the luxury of being able to name two All Blacks and a sevens representative on the bench for Saturday's ITM Cup premiership final against Canterbury.
Waikato coach Chris Gibbes has named wing Sitiveni Sivivatu, who missed the final cut for the All Blacks' World Cup squad, in the reserves along with halfback Brendon Leonard and sevens' speedster Declan O'Donnell. Sivivatu and Leonard have played 58 tests between them.
Sivivatu is returning from a fractured eye socket picked up playing for the All Blacks but he's still a surprise omission from the starting side, especially as he's determined to leave Waikato on a high note before heading to France to play for Clermont Auvergne.
Henry Speight and Tim Mikkelson have been preferred on the wings, even though Mikkelson struggled with his hands against Auckland last weekend.
Another former All Black, Stephen Donald, also wants to go out a winner in his final game in New Zealand before he takes up a three-year contract with Bath.