About six seats on the plane to the World Cup are up for grabs if the All Blacks remain injury-free in 2015.
Coach Steve Hansen will name a squad of 31 in late August to pursue a second consecutive title and says 25 are pencilled in already.
“The other six will be difficult,” Hansen told journalists ahead of the tour-ending win over Wales at Cardiff.
Hansen is happy with the quality of players at his disposal and the depth, which has created contention in some positions.
However, nobody’s chances should be written off yet.
“There’s bound to be somebody get injured, maybe two or three.
“So we’ve just got to keep working with the 42 or even 50 people that are out there that we need to be in really good shape.”
Super Rugby form will be crucial for most fringe contenders as there are only five Tests leading up to the tournament to prove their worth.
“It’ll become obvious who 29 of those people are around early August and the other positions will be about who’s right for the team,” Hansen said.
“If everyone’s fit and available, there will be some good players who are going to miss out.”
A requirement to name three halfbacks and three hookers may mean some big names miss out.
Seasoned fullback Israel Dagg could be coming under threat, with Hansen reluctant to select too many outside backs.
He will bank on versatile players closer to the action to cover fullback or wing.
Code-hopper Sonny Bill Williams’ return casts doubt over whether Hansen will name any other midfield specialists beyond Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith.
Colin Slade’s impact as a late tour call-up has enhanced his chances while the only question mark at halfback is who backs up Aaron Smith.
A possible contender is veteran Andy Ellis, whose last Test was the 2011 World Cup final.
A sixth flanker looks a straight shootout between Victor Vito and Steven Luatua, although they could both miss out if Hansen decides athletic lock Patrick Tuipulotu can cover.
One established prop will have to make way once Tony Woodcock returns from his long-standing shoulder injury.
Hansen says fine-tuning tactics and attitude will be more important than selection minutiae.
“Everybody that rocks up to the World Cup, if they’ve got their formula right … then they can win,” he said.
“It’s been proven time and again that you don’t have to be the top dog to win it, you just have to be the right dog.
“We should have won in 2007, but we weren’t the right dog because we didn’t turn up with the right attitude.
“We made excuses, but the reality is we came expecting to win.”
The World Cup begins for New Zealand against Argentina at London’s Wembley Stadium on September 20.
A POSSIBLE ALL BLACKS’ WORLD CUP SQUAD
Backs: Ben Smith, Charles Piutau, Cory Jane, Julian Savea, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Sonny Bill Williams, Ryan Crotty, Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Andy Ellis.
Forwards: Kieran Read, Richie McCaw, Sam Cane, Liam Messam, Jerome Kaino, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Jeremy Thrush, Owen Franks, Charlie Faumuina, Tony Woodcock, Wyatt Crockett, Ben Franks, Dane Coles, Keven Mealamu, Nathan Harris.
