All Black fullback Christian Cullen has been left on the bench for next Saturday's game against Ireland despite an impressive return to the international game helping his side triumph against Italy.
Cullen, lock Simon Malink and prop Kees Meeuws have been left out of the 23-man squad named by coach John Mitchell to prepare for Saturday's Test in Dunedin.
Back into the squad come fullback Leon MacDonald, Scott Robertson and prop Greg Sommerville. All three, players with the Crusaders Super 12 side, were left out for the Italy game to allow them to rest after their Super 12 exertions.
Their return, along with that of Wellington centre Tana Umaga, will greatly strengthen the All Black side which was scratchy against the Italians.
With two Tests against Ireland and a match against Fiji before the squad contest the Tri-Nations, starting in July, more experiments are likely to be made by Mitchell before he settles on his final selection.
"This is a different week and we have a different challenge ahead of us to that which we faced against Italy," Mitchell said.
"The players selected are the ones that we feel are best suited for this game."
In their last contest at the end of 2001, Ireland scored 29 points to the All Blacks 40.
No All Blacks side has ever lost a Test match to the Irish and Mitchell is taking no risks this time around.
"They are a very good side," he said.
"You only have to look at the record Ireland has put together over the last couple of years where they have knocked over teams like England and France, to see that they are going to be a hard nut to crack.
"This game is going to be a step up on Italy and we'll be looking to make improvements.
Meanwhile , Italian Francesco Mazzariol, who admitted kicking unprotected All Black inside centre Daryl Gibson in the face during yesterday's game, has been suspended until August 31 following a post-match hearing.