Donnelly (27) was in Auckland yesterday at an All Black training camp, after being called in earlier this week to the one-day camp to cover for injured lock Bryn Evans.
It was announced late on Tuesday night that Evans was to have season-ending surgery on his lower back, an injury he first picked up in pre-season training with the Hurricanes late last year.
Donnelly, who has never worn the All Black jersey, may come into the picture for the squad of 26 to leave for Sydney this weekend to play Australia in the Tri-Nations on August 22.
Donnelly looks likely to vie for a position on the bench with Taranaki lock-loose forward Jason Eaton, with Brad Thorn and Isaac Ross the first-choice locks.
Eaton made little impact for the All Blacks when he came on from the bench in the two losing tests in South Africa.
With the line-out struggling against the classy South Africans, and Donnelly one of the better line-out forwards in New Zealand, he may be regarded an alternative by the All Black selectors.
The All Black selectors will name a 26-strong squad on Saturday.
Otago assistant coach Bruce Carvell said Donnelly was keen to play tonight, despite having to go to Auckland yesterday.
Carvell said Donnelly had been in some good form in the past few games, and deserved his call-up.
Donnelly was a member of the Junior All Blacks this year, when the side easily won the Pacific Nations Cup.
Evans told the Hawkes Bay Today he had a scan after the Super 14 and it revealed a small bulge in one of the lower discs.
He got through the first half of the international season but when he woke last Friday morning it was a battle to walk.
A scan on Tuesday revealed a bit of disc protruding on to his S1 nerve, causing pins and needles.
An operation will remove a bit of the nerve, and Evans expects to be out of action for eight to 10 weeks, at least.
Evans was a surprise choice for the All Blacks this season, having been mostly second choice for the Hurricanes in the Super 14.
