All Blacks centurion Mils Muliaina has targeted the team's test against Scotland as the most expendable on their upcoming northern tour.
The national side will kick off the annual trek beyond the Equator next week against Japan - a team that has never finished within 37 points of New Zealand, but has made great strides in recent years, including World Cup pool victories over South Africa, Ireland and Scotland at the last two tournaments.
Coach Ian Foster has stated his wish to give some of his fringe players a chance to show their abilities during the four-match schedule, but more than a month since their last outing, Muliaina insists the Japanese fixture at Tokyo is not the time to experiment.
"There's no disagreement that we have to get guys out there, but this isn't a Rugby World Cup practice run," Muliaina told Sky Sport's Breakdown. "What we've got to get out of this is two things - momentum, but also introduce guys.
"When do we introduce guys? I don't think it's the first game against Japan, because of the layoff the guys have had.
"I think it's the Scottish test."
After the Japan test, the All Blacks have an eight-day turnaround before facing Wales, then another eight days before Scotland, but just six to prepare for their toughest assignment against England, one spot behind them in fifth on world rankings.
In a year when they have found consistency so hard to achieve, Muliaina reasons the NZ selectors must field their best available line-up against the 'Brave Blossoms' to regain the impetus they built during Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship triumphs.
That leaves the Scottish encounter as the best opportunity to blood rookies in the northern hemisphere environment. Scotland are one of a dwindling list of rivals still chasing their first win over the All Blacks, but they've drawn twice.
Last time the two rivals met in 2017, the Scots drew within a converted try of victory in the dying moments and blew a potential matchwinner, when fullback Stuart Hogg's despairing offload bobbled forward near the tryline.
"Let's put our best team available [against Japan], you lead into the Welsh test and you're humming," Muliaina told Breakdown. "The Scottish test... there's a short turnaround and that England game has got to be the one they win.
"Maybe pull a few guys out and test a few guys against Scotland. If they lose to Scotland, I'm OK with that.
"If they come away with that England test and they're really humming, I think they'll go into 2023 really confident."
Two players in particular - Blues teammates Stephen Perofeta and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck - loom as candidates for extended opportunities on this trip. Both have made only cameo appearances in black so far and deserve chances to step up to international level.
First-five/fullback Perofeta will likely take the field in Tokyo, with fullback candidates Beauden and Jordie Barrett (bereavement), and Will Jordan (ear infection) all missing the plane from New Zealand this week.
How Foster uses rugby league convert Tuivasa-Sheck, still finding his feet in the 15-man code, remains to be seen.
Selection against Japan has been further clouded by the absences of locks Scott Barrett (bereavement) and Sam Whitelock (injury), withdrawal of halfback Fola Fakatava (knee rupture) and ongoing injury concerns over veteran hooker Dane Coles.
Damian McKenzie, Patrick Tuipulotu, Brad Weber and Asofa Aumau have been drafted from the All Blacks XV to cover those losses in the short term.
Join us for live updates of the All Blacks' northern tour, starting 6:50pm Saturday against Japan
