All Blacks second-five David Havili hopes to rekindle a "very special" midfield partnership with Reiko Ioane for their test against Wales on Sunday (NZ Time).
Coach Ian Foster will name his team on Thursday, but the dynamic duo are expected to return to the starting line-up for their northern tour test at Principality Stadium.
Havili and Ioane haven't haven't played together since New Zealand's controversial win over Australia at Melbourne in the first Bledisloe Cup clash.
Havili was forced from the field in the early exchanges with a head injury, making way for fullback-turned-midfielder Jordie Barrett.
Barrett started and starred in the following week's demolition of the Wallabies at Eden Park, but should return to fullback for the test against Wales.
If Havili is selected alongside Ioane, he would relish the opportunity to feed the dangerous centre again, as the All Blacks look to improve on their underwhelming win over Japan.
"Yeah, it's great," he said. "Every opportunity I get to play with him is very special, he's a great athlete and someone I love playing with.
"When he gets an opportunity with the ball in his hands, that's all I'm looking to do.
"There's always a bond there. We've played together for the last couple of years now, so it's pretty familiar, but if I get the opportunity this weekend, it's about reconnecting with him during the week.
"It's just been our simple skillsets. At times, under pressure, we didn't execute that and that's our main focus this week.
"Execute our simple skills - catch, pass, finish that and make sure that we're working on that throughout the week, on our pods.
"It's another big challenge this weekend and one that we're looking forward to.
"We started today with solid training, under a wee bit of dew from the rain, but we're hoping to express ourselves this week and that's what we've been working on.
With the All Blacks still chasing consistent performances, Wales will fancy their chances to claim their first win over New Zealand in almost 70 years.
If they are to win, Welsh superstar Louis Rees-Zammit will undoubtedly be at the forefront of any potential upset at Cardiff.
The wing has been a sensation, since bursting onto the international test arena in 2020 as a teenager, with his electric pace.
All Blacks winger Sevu Reece hasn't seen much of Rees-Zammit, but looks forward to the battle, with name bragging rights at stake.
"Yeah, a little bit," he said. "I've seen some of his highlights pop up here and there.
"If I get the opportunity this weekend, it'll be exciting to come up against another Reece/Rees."
