Sevens star Kelly Brazier will return from injury for the Black Ferns' first test against France.
Brazier, who has played 40 tests in the longer format, has been named to start at second five-eighth for Sunday's (NZ time) match at Pau.
Brazier has recovered from an Achilles injury, will partner Black Ferns Sevens team-mate and fellow Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Stacey Fluhler in midfield.
Black Ferns coach Glenn Moore is curious to see what Brazier offers.
"Playing Kelly at 12 gives us an opportunity to have two 10s on the field," he says. "We've done that with her before and this time we get to see her in combination with Ruahei, which is something we think is important looking ahead to next year.
"It will bring a different style to our backline and that's exactly what we want to test."
Brazier is one of three changes to the starting line-up for New Zealand, who came into the two-test series after two thumping defeats to England.
The other changes see Dhys Faleafaga returning from injury and young lock Maia Roos promoted from the bench.
Brazier replaces the injured Grace Brooker, who underwent surgery on her knee this week, after sustaining an injury in the second test against England, while Faleafaga comes in for Alana Bremner.
Canterbury hooker Georgia Ponsonby is poised for her test debut off the bench, with vice-captain Eloise Blackwell returning to the matchday 23, after sitting out last week.
Moore says France are renowned for their unpredictable play and present a new challenge.
"We are still developing this squad as a whole," he says. "We were disappointed with the scoreline against England last week, but there were passages where we played well and we need to build the continuity, so we are playing like that for longer periods.
"The French are flamboyant and play a bit more of an unstructured game, so we have picked a side we think will suit that."
Black Ferns: 1-Pip Love, 2-Grace Houpapa-Barrett, 3-Aleisha Pearl Nelson, 4-Joanah Ngan-Woo, 5-Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 6-Dhys Faleafaga, 7-Les Elder (c), 8-Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, 9-Kendra Cocksedge, 10-Ruahei Demant, 11-Ayesha Leti-I'iga,12-Kelly Brazier, 13-Stacey Fluhler, 14-Portia Woodman, 15-Cheyelle Robins-Reti
Reserves: 16-Georgia Ponsonby, 17-Aldora Itunu, 18-Amy Rule, 19-Eloise Blackwell, 20-Kennedy Simon, 21-Ariana Bayler, 22-Patricia Maliepo, 23-Carla Hohepa
