Hoeata has enjoyed a glorious past 12 months which looks set to be completed on Friday night with his first appearance in the black jersey.
Though the team is due to be announced this morning - by email - Hoeata appeared to be running in the starting team at training at Carisbrook yesterday.
He is also likely to be accompanied by Highlanders Colin Slade, Jimmy Cowan and Adam Thomson, with Ben Smith coming off the bench.
Hoeata (27) has made tremendous progress in the past 12 months.
After just five games for the Chiefs in 2010, he was picked by New Zealand Maori coach Jamie Joseph and impressed in that side's short internal tour.
Joseph then picked the rugged Taranaki forward to play for the Highlanders and he was a revelation in his first season with the franchise, playing every game and impressing with his hard and uncompromising approach.
He was subsequently selected for the All Blacks earlier this month and is expected to share the locking duties with Ali Williams on Friday night.
It will also be a big match for Williams, who last wore the jersey in 2008.
He has overcome two season-ending Achilles injuries to win back a position in the team.
With the other two locking options in the squad, Sam Whitelock and Brad Thorn, coming off some intense play-off games in the past few weeks, coach Graham Henry appears to have favoured those who have not played much rugby of late.
Thomson is likely to team up with captain Richie McCaw and Liam Messam, at No 8, in the loose forwards.
Slade will start instead of Dan Carter, one of a host of Crusaders who will put their feet up for another week before the tough test of the Springboks in Wellington, on July 30.
Carter said yesterday he had enjoyed having the past weekend off, although his body was still feeling good.
"It feels really good to be back. Really exciting. Having that week off was really refreshing," Carter said.
When asked how he felt after the long Super 15 season he said his body was feeling fine and if anything it was more about the mental state thanhis physical health.
"I was really up for those play-off games, although mentally you are pretty tired, and I really enjoyed that week off."
Carter is likely to start from the bench at best and may get some action in the second half as Slade is unlikely to play the full 80 minutes.
The last time Carter wore the black jersey on Carisbrook, the first five-eighth had a fine match, scoring 27 points against Wales last year.
Yesterday, the side spent much of a lengthy training working through moves and defensive formations and Carter said the side was working on its own game and not worrying about what the Fijians were up to.
"It will be a tough match. They are a pretty unpredictable side and are always extremely physical ... but we pride ourselves on our physicality. We've been learning our game plan."
The probables
Probable All Black starting XV:
Mils Muliaina, Zac Guildford, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Hosea Gear, Colin Slade, Jimmy Cowan, Liam Messam, Richie McCaw, Adam Thomson, Ali Williams, Jarrad Hoeata, Ben Franks, Andrew Hore, Wyatt Crockett.
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