No 8 Nikora Broughton and blindside-lock TK Howden have retained their places in the Māori squad for a game against a Japan XV in Nagoya at the end of the month.
Broughton is coming off his best season for the Highlanders, while Howden has been consistently excellent since transferring south from the Hurricanes.
They are joined in the squad by nippy Highlanders and Taranaki halfback Adam Lennox, who has not yet had a long run of Super Rugby starts but has had a couple of highlight-reel games.
He has a tidy pass, a handy boot and a dazzling running game, and it would not be a surprise to see him get the Māori No 9 jersey ahead of Sam Nock and Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi.
The other debutants in the squad are Chiefs winger Reon Paul, Blues fullback Payton Spencer, Chiefs midfielder Kyle Brown, Blues flanker Torian Barnes, Crusaders lock Tahlor Cahill and Chiefs Hooker JJ Pokai.
Crusaders playmakers Rivez Reihana and Taha Kemara will jostle for the No10 jersey, while Chiefs prop Ollie Norris will be eager to play well to push his way back into the All Blacks.
The other forwards in the squad are Benet Kumeroa, Jared Proffit, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Marcel Renata, Jacob Devery, Tyrone Thompson, Caleb Delany, Laghlan McWhannell and Jahrome Brown.
Bailyn Sullivan, Xavi Taele — rumoured to be joining the Highlanders — and Cole Forbes round out the backs.
Former All Blacks assistant Tamati Ellison is the new Māori All Blacks coach.
