Codie Taylor will captain the All Blacks against the Bulls in Pretoria on his return from a calf injury but outside back Will Jordan and halfback Cam Roigard remain absent.
Head coach Dave Rennie said Jordan would have played in Durban on Wednesday had he not suffered a back issue during the week and that the right wing would almost certainly be available for this Sunday morning's match at Loftus Versfeld.
And Roigard was named on the bench for the Sharks only to be a late withdrawal due to a tight calf.
Neither Jordan nor Roigard were mentioned by Rennie in the team announcement media release, but they are presumably injury concerns ahead of the first Test at Ellis Park a week on Sunday.
Every other player named in the squad of 44 will have featured in at least one of the three tour games before the first Test, with props Xavier Numia and Tyrel Lomax playing in their first match of the tour on Sunday.
For hooker Taylor, a man who has immense experience leading the Crusaders, it will be the first time he has captained the All Blacks.
“Huge congratulations to Codie on his first All Blacks captaincy," Rennie said in a statement. "He is a top man and has done a great job leading this tour group. This is a proud moment for an All Blacks' centurion who has made a massive contribution to this team as a player and a leader."
Other notable selections include a first start for first-five Josh Jacomb after he came off the bench for his debut against the Stormers in Cape Town.
Beauden Barrett, who wore the No.10 jersey in that match, will start at fullback.
Rieko Ioane will start at centre alongside Anton Lienert-Brown, with Leroy Carter and Josh Moorby named on the wings.
Fabian Holland and Patrick Tuipulotu are in the second row, with Simon Parker, Anton Segner and Wallace Sititi the loose forwards.
Six players from the team that beat the Sharks back up for the Bulls match: Sititi, lock Josh Lord, halfbacks Kyle Preston and Cortez Ratima (who are both playing their third game of the tour), midfielder Timoci Tavatavanawai and outside back Emoni Narawa.
A total of 14 players named in the 23 to take on the Bulls played in the opening match against the Stormers.
“The Bulls have consistently been South Africa’s best franchise side, making the United Rugby Championship finals in four of the last five years. Loftus Versfeld is one of the most formidable rugby grounds in the world, so we are aware of the challenge in front of us and excited at what lies ahead,” Rennie said.
“This is also our final hit out before the first Test match against the Springboks, so it is an important game for us. There is healthy competition for Test spots so this is another opportunity for players to put their hands up for selection."
Apart from the absence of their star duo Jordan and Roigard, Damian McKenzie's ankle injury which forced him from the field in Durban, could be another issue for the All Blacks, who will receive a notable reinforcement in the form of Richie Mo'unga shortly.
Mo'unga, named as centre Billy Proctor's replacement, may be edging closer to a role in the first Test as a result.
All Blacks team to play the Bulls
1. Xavier Numia, 2. Codie Taylor, (c), 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Fabian Holland, 5. Patrick Tuipulotu, 6. Simon Parker, 7. Anton Segner, 8. Peter Lakai, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Josh Jacomb, 11. Josh Moorby, 12. Anton Lienert-Brown, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Leroy Carter, 15. Beauden Barrett.
Reserves: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17. George Bower, 18. Siale Lauaki, 19. Josh Lord, 20. Wallace Sititi, 21. Kyle Preston, 22. Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23. Emoni Narawa.
Match facts
(Provided by NZ Rugby)
• The All Blacks have played at Loftus Versfeld (and the former Eastern Sports Ground) 16 times since 1928, playing six Tests against the Springboks and four games against the forerunner to the Bulls, Northern Transvaal, in 1949, 1960, 1970 and 1976. The All Blacks won the first three games and lost the 1976 match 29-27.
• Other opponents the All Blacks have played at Loftus Versfeld include the Junior Springboks, South African Universities, Northern Universities, South African Combined Services, Pretoria and Pretoria Clubs. The All Blacks also played Scotland there at the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
• The match venue is 1350 metres above sea level, and the rarefied air allows kicks to travel much further than at sea level. Twenty years ago Dan Carter kicked what is possibly the longest ever penalty kick by an All Black, nailing a 62m penalty in the All Blacks’ 45-26 victory.
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