All black flyhalves put on trial?
Top of that list are a couple of flyhalves, who are among 17 players released for NPC duty in the next few weeks.
Lima Sopoaga has leaped up the All Black flyhalf pecking order with his performance during the Rugby Championship.
However, Dan Carter should get the nod as New Zealand's first-choice flyhalf.
French-bound No.10 Colin Slade appear to be the official back-up to Carter for the global showpiece.
Sopoaga and Beauden Barrett are likely to fight for the third spot.
They have both been released to play for their NPC teams in what will become a couple of intriguing 'trial' matches.
Several other All Black fringe players, with World Cup ambitions, have been made available to play for their NPC teams over the next two rounds.
New Zealand Rugby Union on Monday issued a list of players released for provincial duty, comprising those deemed short of game time in recent weeks.
Wellington wing Cory Jane will face a tough task of forcing his way in – with Julian Savea, Nehe Milner-Skudder and Charles Piutau ahead of him in the pecking order.
Auckland will have the services of Charlie Faumuina for both rounds, with the 27-Test All Black desperate to prove his fitness after nearly three months out following minor neck surgery.
Twelve players are released for second round of games this weekend, while 14 will be on duty the following week.
Players to be released :
NPC Week Two: Cory Jane (Wellington), Jeremy Thrush (Wellington), Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Waikato), Liam Messam (Waikato), Lima Sopoaga (Southland), Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay), Charlie Faumuina (Auckland), Charles Piutau (Auckland), Ryan Crotty (Canterbury), Joe Moody (Canterbury), Patrick Osborne (Canterbury), Matt Todd (Canterbury).
NPC Week Three: Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty), Cory Jane (Wellington), Jeremy Thrush (Wellington), Victor Vito (Wellington), Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay), Ben Franks (Hawke's Bay), Charlie Faumuina (Auckland), Charles Piutau (Auckland), Ryan Crotty Joe Moody (Canterbury), Patrick Osborne (Canterbury), Matt Todd (Canterbury), Beauden Barrett (Taranaki), James Broadhurst (Taranaki).
Source: NZ Newswire
