With the All Blacks backline stocks getting thinner by the test match, the versatility of brothers Beauden and Jordie Barrett may be key to their Bledisloe Cup rematch with Australia at Eden Park.
In the series opener, where New Zealand took a controversial 39-37 victory over the Wallabies, the brothers were forced to show their utility value, covering the backline during an injury crisis.
A failed concussion test to second-five David Havili and a season-ending injury to replacement Quinn Tupaea forced Jordie Barrett to shift from fullback into the midfield, as Beauden came off the bench to take over at fullback.
With Havili and Tupaea joining fellow centres Anton Lienert-Brown and Jack Goodhue in the casualty ward, this week's build-up presents Foster a decision to make over his No.12.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck stands as the only specialist left standing, while Jordie Barrett or Leicester Fainga'anuku could fill in as a utility playing away from their preferred positions of fullback and wing respectively.
In particular, Barrett's shift would be a diversion away from the All Blacks plans, with Foster stating his preference at fullback, after making the jersey his own in 2021.
But Beauden would welcome that switch, after his younger brother's display at Marvel Stadium.
"He was at 12, I was at 15, but it was good to see him move in," said Barrett. "He was the third 12 on the pitch.
"I thought he went really well, it's a position that isn't too foreign [to Jordie]. He played a lot at school, for Lincoln, and for Canterbury and U20s.
"He's very capable there. I don't know what it'll mean for this week, but he has some desire to play there."
But Jordie moving to No.12 would leave another selection headache at No.15.
Tryscoring sensation Will Jordan is a natural replacement for Barrett, after an outstanding Super Rugby season in the Crudaders No.15 jersey, even if that creates another conundrum on the right wing.
After Beauden covered fullback in the first test, moving there for Eden Park would resurrect the much-maligned 'dual playmaker' system that fell short at the 2019 World Cup, as he shares the field with first-five Richie Mo'unga.
Should the dice fall that way, Beauden Barrett would happily return to fullback, but admits he's uncertain of how Foster will play his hand.
"I take a lot of confidence in trusting the test week's preparation," he added. "We've got four days to get out there with the boys and prepare for a test match.
"Who knows what will happen?"
Barrett is also confident the issues that plagued his combination with Mo'unga in the past - namely, both instinctively wanting to control the same play - wouldn't bring the same issues now.
"Sometimes I do crowd him a little bit too much, naturally. It's still giving him that first receiver priority and getting better at playing off him as a second receiver, but I really enjoy it."
Join us from 7pm Saturday for live updates of the second All Blacks v Wallabies Bledisloe Cup test
