Rodney So'oialo is set to start Saturday's Bledisloe Cup Test in Tokyo as he fights for his place at number eight for the All Blacks.
Canterbury's Kieran Read started the last Tri Nations Test against Australia in Wellington while the Lions stalwart came on as a substitute, but So'oialo's relishing his recall.
He says the competition is exciting and he's really starting to enjoy his rugby again and this weekend he's going to try to keep doing what he did to win the jersey in the first place.
So'oialo has revealed he had found himself losing his love for rugby this year until he began playing with Wellington again in the Air New Zealand Cup.
Outside backs Sitiveni Sivivatu and Conrad Smith also make their return from injury, while the All Blacks coach Graham Henry has admitted the news yesterday of the relegation of the Wallabies flanker George Smith had caught the All Blacks off guard.