Four members of the 36-man All Blacks touring squad will pull on the New Zealand Maori jersey in Chicago after being selected to play the United States.
Young guns Rieko Ioane and Damian McKenzie, as well as halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow and loose forward Elliot Dixon, have all been released to play for New Zealand Maori.
Damian McKenzie playing for the Maori All Blacks against Fiji, 2015. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The quartet, all previous New Zealand Maori representatives, will start on Saturday (NZ Time) and thus miss the All Blacks clash with Ireland on Sunday.
Maori All Blacks coach Colin Cooper said he had no hesitation in naming the four to start.
"These guys are all familiar with our environment so we know they are able to move between the All Blacks and our squad with great ease," he said.
"This is the most experienced squad we've had for a while."
Cooper has named just three debutants for the clash in Chicago, including Blues flanker Kara Pryor in the number 7 jersey
Fellow debutants Marcel Renata and Leighton Price have been named on the bench.
Hooker Ash Dixon will captain the side, aided by former captain and Crusaders second-five Tim Bateman.
Ash Dixon will captain the Maori All Blacks. Photo: Photosport
"Ash Dixon takes on the captaincy duties this year but really he's been part of the set up for a while," Cooper said.
"He has experience as a leader on the field, and with former captain Tim Bateman back in the mix, I know that the team will have some really solid decision makers on the field."
Cooper said their preparation time in Chicago has been good and they were clear about their game plan.
"The main focus will be on playing our game and making sure we give the USA due respect.
"We've have had a look at them and they have a big raw game, a big pack and we will need to play with some structure.
"We will want to have a good focus on attack and defend with a lot of go forward."
The New Zealand Maori will follow up Saturday's match with games against Munster in Limerick and the Harlequins in London.
Kick-off is at 1pm (NZ Time).
The Māori All Blacks team (with iwi/tribe) is:
1 Kane Hames Ngāi Tuhoe / Ngāti Porou
2 Ash Dixon (Captain) Ngāti Tahinga
3 Ben May Ngāti Maniapoto / Tainui
4 Jacob Skeen Ngāpuhi
5 Tom Franklin Ngāti Maniapoto
6 Elliot Dixon Ngāpuhi
7 Kara Pryor * Ngāti Awa / Ngāti Pikiao / Ngāti Rangitihi
8 Akira Ioane Ngāpuhi / Te Whānau ā Apanui
9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow Waikato / Ngāti Maniapoto
10 Ihaia West Ngāti Kahungunu / Ngāti Porou
11 James Lowe Ngāpuhi / Ngāi Te Rangi
12 Tim Bateman Ngāi Tahu
13 Matt Proctor Ngāpuhi / Ngāiterangi
14 Rieko Ioane Ngāpuhi / Te Whānau ā Apanui
15 Damian McKenzie Ngāti Tūwharetoa / Ngāti Tahinga
16 Joe Royal Te Arawa / Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei / Ngāpuhi
17 Chris Eves Waikato / Tainui
18 Marcel Renata * Ngāti Whānaunga / Te Aupouri
19 Leighton Price * Waikato / Ngāti Maniapoto
20 Shane Christie Te Ati Haunui ā Pāpārangi / Ngāti Kurawhatia
21 Brad Weber Ngāti Porou
22 Marty McKenzie Ngāti Tūwharetoa / Ngāti Tahinga
23 Sean Wainui Ngāi Tuhoe / Te Āitanga a Māhaki/Ngā Arikikaiputahi/Ngāti Porou
* denotes new Maori All Blacks cap
- AAP, RNZ
