Steve Hansen is finally starting to show some of the cards in his World Cup hand and Beauden Barrett and Charles Piutau might just symbolise the youthful aces in his pack.
Barrett gets the final chance of 2014 to impress the All Blacks selectors after being named to start at first five-eighth against Wales at Millennium Stadium on Sunday.
It's a significant moment for the 23-year-old, who will run the cutter in front of 75,000 baying Welshmen at one of next year's key World Cup venues.
Dan Carter may well rediscover his top form with the Crusaders, but injury and age dictate that cannot be guaranteed.
Aaron Cruden is cool headed, experienced, and has shown an ability to lift for big games. His efforts since the 2011 World Cup should not be dismissed, nor his ability to work his teams out of tight situations, but his goal kicking of late is a concern.
Barrett is a player with the skill set to take the All Blacks' attack to new heights. That's important considering they have operated in fits and starts all year with ball in hand.
He has played just 21 minutes, off the bench against England, but Hansen said he always planned to start Barrett in the season finale.
"We've seen Crudes on this tour against one of the big teams in England and we wanted to see Beauden in one as well, so clearly the Welsh game was the one he'd be picked for. We are using this tour to find out more about the guys we've got."
With Barrett starting, there is no room for Cruden, or Carter in the squad with Colin Slade's versatility earning him a place on the bench.
Asked if he was concerned about Barrett's lack of game time, Hansen smiled: "He'll be alright. Sometimes you just have to trust us."
After the Rugby Championship he said Barrett had his nose ahead of Cruden, and that appears to still be the case.
The coach senses something special in placing Barrett's pace between the lightning pass of halfback Aaron Smith and the enormous threat of second five-eighth Sonny Bill Williams.
There is, of course, much water to go under the bridge, but a dash of youth can be as valuable to ageing teams as experienced heads.
Charles Piutau, another 23-year-old, finds himself on the wing in just his seventh test start. The Aucklander has bristled with energy and excitement all tour and not just during his fine display against Scotland at Murrayfield.
Watching Piutau at training is like watching a man in perpetual motion as he practises tricks, flicks and kicks between drills. He moves like a cat and runs into objects like a rhino.
"On this tour he's got better and better and after the Scotland game we thought, 'OK, lets see what he's like against the big boys'," Hansen said.
His selection comes at the expense of veteran fullback Israel Dagg, who makes way for the indispensable Ben Smith, a player "that good you can't leave him out".
And on the bench 21-year-old lock Patrick Tuipulotu, "a special athlete" according to his coach, is twitching to show more after his storming finish against England.
Ben Smith, Piutau, and openside Richie McCaw, who will captain the side for the 100th time in a test, are the only three survivors from the side that started last week's 24-16 win over Scotland at Murrayfield.
Hansen is the master of rejuvenation. He's also a meticulous planner. Playing minutes were managed to the nth degree and so too will have been Barrett's big chance.
AT A GLANCE
ALL BLACKS: Ben Smith, Charles Piutau, Conrad Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (c), Jerome Kaino, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Joe Moody, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Liam Messam, TJ Perenara, Colin Slade, Ryan Crotty.
WALES: Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, George North, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb, Taulupe Faletau, Sam Warburton (captain), Dan Lydiate, Alun Wyn Jones, Jake Ball, Samson Lee, Richard Hibbard, Paul James. Reserves: Scott Baldwin, Nicky Smith, Rhodri Jones, Luke Charteris, Justin Tipuric, Mike Phillips, James Hook, Liam Williams.
