The Highlanders should have all their big guns - the two Smiths, Malakai Fekitoa and others - to play the British and Irish Lions next year.
The southern franchise, along with the Blues and Crusaders, are likely to be near full strength for their matches against the Lions.
In the wake of the criticism from some European clubs about the toughness of the Lions' schedule, which includes three tests, five matches against the New Zealand Super rugby teams, a match against the New Zealand Maori, and one against the New Zealand Barbarians, All Black selector Grant Fox said yesterday the majority of the All Blacks would be available for their franchises in the early matches.
The Lions, who will probably be coached by Warren Gatland - an announcement is due this week - open their tough tour with a match against the Barbarians in Whangarei on June 3, before playing the Blues, Crusaders and Highlanders in the space of eight days.
The first test will be played in Auckland on June 24, which means the Chiefs, who host the Lions on June 20, are unlikely to have their All Blacks available. The same applies for the Hurricanes, who play the Lions on June 27, between the first and second tests.
``The Super rugby sides will be loaded up with All Blacks early because there's a bit of time from game one to the first test and they need to play. And then, as we get closer to the test, some of those franchises will have less access to the All Blacks as we start preparing for it,'' Fox said yesterday.
Fox said any tour of New Zealand would be tough which was shown when Wales was thumped midweek by the Chiefs in June.
``Any tour of New Zealand is going to be challenging because we've got real talent and depth here.
``But I wouldn't predict results based on that match against Wales, and I don't think there will be a midweek Lions team as such.
``I think Gats [Warren Gatland], if it is him, will mix things up to give everyone an opportunity to press for test selection. The last thing he'd want to do is flag early what his test team is, both for his own group and for us.''
The ballot for the test tickets opened yesterday and is expected to be very popular.
Tickets for the games against the franchises will go on sale to the public late next month.
Before then they will be available to season ticketholders, New Zealand Rugby community members and Team All Black members.
The Lions play the Highlanders at Forsyth Barr Stadium on June 13, the fourth game of the tour.
The test tickets will range in price from $449 for a category A seat to $149 for general admission.
Ticket prices for the games against the franchises have yet to be released but will range from $39 to $129.
- The New Zealand Herald/additional reporting by Steve Hepburn
