Captain Richie McCaw, Aaron Smith and Owen Franks have started every All Black test this season and while Soldier Field in Chicago would be a souvenir outing for all three, it is also a chance for a break.
The All Blacks selectors will have a broad plan about how they will use their 34 players across successive internationals against USA, England, Scotland then Wales.
Steve Hansen, Ian Foster and Grant Fox have been able to sift through opposition squads named by Scotland and Wales, with coach Stuart Lancaster to announce his England squad today.
He will have to do without an injured Manu Tuilagi for the November 8 test against the All Blacks while forwards Dan Cole, Alex Corbisiero, Mako Vunipola, Tom Youngs, Geoff Parling, Louis Deacon, Tom Croft, Ed Slater and Tom Johnson are all out for some time.
The All Blacks have a three-week spell between Brisbane and meeting England at Twickenham and selectors will have discussions with the medical and conditioning staff about managing players' schedules.
Several of the last test selection would benefit from repeat involvement against the USA while Daniel Carter (if he passes a fitness test), Aaron Cruden, Ryan Crotty, Sonny Bill Williams, TJ Perenara, Augustine Pulu, Victor Vito, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ben Franks and Nathan Harris could also use some match-play.
If Ben Smith will benefit from another week to collect his sharpness then Israel Dagg has to find some of the bite missing from his work.
Ben Smith, Julian Savea, Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick have missed just one start in the 10 All Black tests this season and may all be excused the test with USA to get their bodies primed for the final three tests of the tour.
Savea's schedule will depend on the plan to reintroduce Ben Smith and Cory Jane's concussion recovery, while Dane Coles damaged his shoulder in Brisbane.
If McCaw doesn't start, then Kieran Read would be the likely leader after captaining the All Blacks half a dozen times last year. The only other player in the squad who has previous captaincy experience is Keven Mealamu.
USA finished second in their recent Rugby Championship when they beat Canada and Uruguay and lost to Argentina and have had players released from competitions in Europe and Japan to play the All Blacks.
- By Wynne Gray of the New Zealand Herald
