When the first All Black squad was named in early June, the Highlanders had a hefty six players in the squad.
Tomorrow, that half dozen could be halved, it could be retained or it may even be increased.
The selectors are picking 28 players, the number dictated by the big-wigs who run the competition.
Of the half dozen from the southern franchise, the one player with the biggest question mark over his immediate future in the black jersey is Hosea Gear.
Two outside backs from the first squad of the year are going to be culled, with the reduced playing numbers and the return of the now fully fit Cory Jane.
Gear made a big call earlier this season when he turned his back on a lucrative Japanese offer to stay in New Zealand but he could be squeezed out of the back-three equation.
It may come down to whom the selectors prefer between Gear and Zac Guildford.
Guildford has the advantage of having played Super 15 rugby for three weeks longer than Gear but there is still that one-trick pony look about him.
Gear would be unlucky as he only played one test against Ireland and did nothing wrong.
But there is a smorgasbord of talent in the outside backs and Gear could be a casualty of that.
Ben Smith should stay, although any talk of him filling the shoes of centre Conrad Smith is wide of the mark.
Wayne Smith always fancied his Highlanders namesake in the midfield but he has left the All Black building and taken those thoughts with him.
The temporarily vacant centre position is best left to Highlander Tamati Ellison.
He was never bettered in the Super 15 season and deserves his chance to get a couple of starts in the black jersey.
Talk of bringing back Sonny Bill Williams for a couple of tests just does not wash and should not happen.
Aaron Smith is a sure thing, as is Andrew Hore, while Adam Thomson should make the cut but you would not bet your house on it.
He may get squeezed out by Liam Messam although the selectors would be wise to pick six loose forwards.
Neither Messam nor Victor Vito has entirely convinced in trying to fill the shoes of Jerome Kaino.
Highlanders lock Jarrad Hoeata may also get a look-in, especially with fitness doubts over both Ali Williams and Luke Romano.
Hoeata did little differently this year than he did in 2011 but has slipped out of the reckoning.
As for the rest, it will be fairly standard stuff, although young prop Ben Tameifuna will possibly miss out.
As the Olympics have shown, time catches up with everyone.
Plenty of defending champions have been dethroned in the pool, for example. No-one can stay on top of the mountain for ever.
Hansen, for sure, knows that and in the next 18 months is going to have make some tough calls to his ageing team.
He probably will not make them tomorrow but he is going to have to make them.
It is not an if.
It is a when.
All Blacks
Possible squad
Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Julian Savea, Zac Guildford, Ben Smith, Tamati Ellison, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Aaron Cruden, Dan Carter, Piri Weepu, Aaron Smith, Victor Vito, Liam Messam, Richie McCaw (captain), Kieran Read, Adam Thomson, Sam Cane, Sam Whitelock, Ali Williams, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Wyatt Crockett, Tony Woodcock, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Keven Mealamu.
