Lomax (22) was named as one of seven new All Blacks in the 19-strong squad which will head away to play in the match against Japan on November 3.
Whether he gets on the field to actually earn an All Black cap is up in the air but it is a promotion that not many saw coming at the start of the year.
Lomax arrived on the New Zealand scene only at the end of the domestic season last year after signing for the Highlanders.
The son of former Kiwi John Lomax, Tyrel Lomax came with big wraps, some talking of him as the next Carl Hayman.
He played 15 games for the Highlanders this year, six of them off the bench, but never really dominated as he got used to the toughness of Super Rugby in this part of the world.
But Lomax is a big body - 127kg and 1.92m - and at just 22 is a mere pup in the propping world.
He obviously has the physical attributes to make an impact on the field and is a player of enormous potential.
Highlanders make up three-quarters of the four loose forwards selected.
Jackson Hemopo, Luke Whitelock and Dillon Hunt join the squad along with former Highlanders loose forward Gareth Evans, who deservedly wins a spot.
Liam Coltman is named in the Japan squad and may fancy his chances of getting a start for the side against the home team.
There are some real bolters among the other new names.
Canterbury first five-eighth Brett Cameron and Taranaki prop Reuben O'Neill have been picked on the back of form in the Mitre 10 Cup.
Wellington and Hurricanes centre Matt Proctor gets a well-deserved call-up.
Some of the new faces are unlikely to play as some from the All Black squad to play Australia on October 27 will stay behind to play against Japan.
The bulk of the 32-man squad will travel to the United Kingdom after the test against the Wallabies to prepare for tests against England, Ireland and Italy.