All Blacks ponder selection options

The absence of injured duo Luke McAlister and Conrad Smith has left New Zealand's coaches with a selection headache ahead of next month's Tri-Nations Tests against South Africa and Australia.

With the incumbent midfield duo ruled out for the remainder of the series and Richard Kahui out for the year with a damaged shoulder, Graham Henry and his backs coach Wayne Smith will be casting their eye over provincial matches - particularly the Ranfurly Shield game between Wellington and Canterbury - over the next couple of weekends to assess the form of players such as Ma'a Nonu and Isaia Toeava.

They will also be mulling over the possibility of switching Daniel Carter to inside centre and starting Stephen Donald at fly-half - a combination that finished the Bledisloe Cup Test in Sydney - or even moving Mils Muliaina from full-back to centre, allowing Cory Jane to slot in at the back.

Toeava has not played a Test since starting alongside Nonu in the midfield against Italy because of a stress fracture in his foot.

He is now back in action and will play at centre for Auckland tomorrow having been recalled to the All Blacks squad.

Of all the options, shifting Carter to 12 would probably raise the most questions as the star pivot has only just returned to international rugby after recovering from a serious Achilles injury and is arguably the world's best playmaker at 10.

A switch would, however, give the All Blacks a left and right kicking option, something they lack with Nonu at 12.

Suggestions of switching Muliaina to centre will cause hearts to flutter among fans who remember only too well how such moves have failed in the past - in the 2003 World Cup semi-final when Leon MacDonald was shifted there due to injury to Tana Umaga and again four years later when Muliaina was handed the number 13 jersey for the quarter-final against France.

The All Blacks would lose little at the back if Jane did play in his preferred position. He was steady on the wing against Australia at Eden Park, where he was selected because of his all-round game, and, given Joe Rokocoko's poor form, it is surprising Jane has not featured since.

Nonu, who has played at inside centre in the black jersey since missing out on World Cup selection in 2007, was dropped to the bench for the Test in Sydney with the coaches looking for the extra kicking option from McAlister alongside Carter.

But the hard-running midfielder made a good impact when he came on at centre for Conrad Smith at half-time and scored the game's only try in the tight 19-18 win for the All Blacks.

Wayne Smith revealed he has been training at centre at times with the All Blacks as well and he will play there for Wellington, so maybe one piece of the selection puzzle has already fallen into place.