The All Black's playmakers Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo'unga will go head to head against one another after being selected at fly-half for New Zealand's highly anticipated North versus South Island clash at Sky Stadium on Saturday evening. The game will be played at Sky Stadium in Wellington at 07:10 am SA Time.
Who should wear the No.10 jersey under Ian Foster is one of the new coach's big headaches of the 2020 international season as the All Blacks commence life after Steve Hansen who moved on following last year's World Cup.
Nor is it the only headache though, with Test talent littered throughout the two teams.
It's the first North v South clash since 2012, but unfortunately, fans will be prevented from attending due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Auckland last month.
Barrett links up with his former teammate at the Hurricanes, TJ Perenara, and will control a side that oozes talent across the backline with only left-winger Caleb Clark the only player without a Test cap to his name.
Damian McKenzie will wear the fullback jersey and his clash against Jordie Barrett is another key matchup.
Up front there is plenty of Test experience too with regular All Blacksprops Karl Tu'inukuafe and Ofa Tuungafasi to start and Ardie Savea wearing the No.7 jersey in the absence of All Blacks captain Sam Cane.
They will come up against a South side that features Crusaders right across the side, with Joe Moody and Codie Taylor joined by Nepo Laulala in the front-row, while lock Sam Whitelock captains the side.
In the backline Mo'unga is joined by Chiefs No.9 Brad Weber, while Hurricanes fullback Barrett is the only other non-Crusaders in the backline.
North Island coach John Plumtree said his side wouldn't have any issues with motivation.
"The North has gelled together really well this week and the players are having a lot of run," he said
"They're really excited at the challenge against the South and certainly not lacking in any motivation."
Added South coach Brad Mooar: "It's always hard to pick those in the 23 and all 28 in our squad could've been selected."
All Black coach Ian Foster will name his All Blacks squad on Sunday.
NORTH ISLAND: 1. Karl Tu'inukuafe, 2. Asafo Aumua, 3. Ofa Tuungafasi, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Akira Ioane, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 9. TJ Perenara, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Caleb Clark, 12. Anton Lienert-Brown, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Damian McKenzie. Replacements: 16. Ash Dixon, 17. Ayden Johnstone, 18. Angus Ta'avo, 19. Scott Scrafton, 20. Dalton Papalioo, 21. Aaron Smith, 22. Peter Umaga-Jensen, 23. Mitch Hunt
SOUTH ISLAND: 1. Joe Moody, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Nepo Laulala, 4. Sam Whitelock (c), 5. Mitchell Dunshea, 6. Shannon Frizell, 7. Tom Christie, 8. Tom Sanders, 9. Brad Weber, 10. Richie Mo'unga, 11. George Bridge, 12. Jack Goodhue, 13. Braydon Ennor, 14. Will Jordan, 15. Jordie Barrett. Replacements: 16. Liam Coltman, 17. George Bower, 18. Tyrel Lomax, 19. Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20. Dillion Hunt, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Josh Ioane, 23. Leicester Fainga'anuku.