Veteran All Blacks hooker Dane Coles has pulled his name from captaincy talks this week ahead of the Japan Test in Tokyo, saying it is an added pressure he doesn't need right now.
The 31-year-old has been sidelined from rugby for 11 months since suffering a knee injury.
Coles admitted if he is selected to play against Japan, his focus will be getting his key roles right at hooker.
"Nah, just because of the year I've had, I’ve got to be little bit selfish here and it's probably not the best thing for me to do," Coles told Stuff about the captaincy.
"Whoever that is, I'll support him. I've got a lead role, if I play in this team to help. There's obviously a lot of young guys coming through and whoever the captain is I'll support him, but for me, that's probably not the best thing.
"It's my first game back, hopefully, in the All Blacks and we'll go from there."
Loose forward Luke Whitelock could be another option to skipper the All Blacks side as 22 of the 23 players that played against the Wallabies last Saturday are expected to leave for London this week.
Richie Mo'unga is set to remain in Japan with Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi in line to start at halfback.
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