Ben Smith will start at centre for the All Blacks against the Wallabies in Dunedin next week while Cory Jane is set to return to the test scene.
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen said Smith will move in one position to replace veteran centre Conrad Smith, who has begun a four-month New Zealand Rugby Union-approved break from the sport.
Ben Smith starred out wide during the Rugby Championship, scoring a competition-record eight tries in six Tests, but Hansen has few other options to partner Ma'a Nonu in the midfield against Australia on October 19.
"The big thing about Ben is he's very comfortable in that All Black jersey. He's not finding anything too difficult because his confidence is sky high,' Hansen told Radio LiveSport.
"He's got a high work rate, he's very very fit and he's got a similar style of game to Conrad. So hopefully he fits in pretty seamlessly.'
Hansen says veteran winger Jane is likely to be Conrad Smith's squad replacement, just weeks after returning from a knee injury suffered in January that ruled him out of Super Rugby and the All Blacks' nine winning
