Rugby: Recalled Hoeft should be ready

Loosehead prop Carl Hoeft has been bracketed with Craig Dowd for the All Blacks' Tri-Nations-Bledisloe Cup rugby test against the Wallabies in Sydney on August 28.

Hoeft missed the return match against South Africa following a calf muscle injury he suffered in an earlier test against Australia.

But All Black coach John Hart said he was optimistic that Hoeft would travel to Sydney following favourable medical reports on his injury.

Apart from the addition of Dowd as cover, the 23-member squad is similar to the one that beat the Australians convincingly in Auckland.

Second five-eighths Daryl Gibson and blindside flanker Dylan Mika, who had both been in doubt due to injury, were declared fit for the match.

New Zealand need a draw at least in Sydney to take the Bledisloe Cup off Australia.

Meanwhile, 11 players from the squad will be available for NPC matches at the weekend. They are Pita Alatini, Tony Brown, Byron Kelleher, Jonah Lomu, Andrew Blowers, Dylan Mika, Carl Hoeft, Craig Dowd, Royce Willis, Mark Hammett and Greg Feek. - NZPA

All Blacks Squad

Backs: Pita Alatini, Tony Brown, Christian Cullen, Daryl Gibson, Alama Ieremia, Byron Kelleher, Jonah Lomu, Justin Marshall, Andrew Mehrtens, Tana Umaga, Jeff Wilson (vice-captain).

Forwards: Andrew Blowers, Robin Brooke, Greg Feek, Mark Hammett, Carl Hoeft or Craig Dowd, Josh Kronfeld, Norm Maxwell, Dylan Mika, Kees Meeuws, Anton Oliver, Taine Randell (captain), Royce Willis.