Inspirational flanker McCaw was today bracketed with Daniel Braid at openside flanker for the test in Sydney and rated a 50 percent chance of playing by coach Graham Henry, depending on further recovery from his ankle strain this week.
After a month of inactivity, McCaw has surprised most of the rugby fraternity not only by returning to the training field this week but also running strongly.
Henry was not so shocked, describing his skipper as a fast healer, but he acknowledged there would be a degree of risk in selecting the veteran of 62 tests three weeks ahead of the test originally circled for his comeback in South Africa.
"He's 50-50 really. We'll see how he progresses for the rest of the week," Henry said.
"The expectation was that he wasn't going to be ready until next week (against Australia in Auckland) at the earliest.
"But he's got the determination and the desire to play, he's done all the rehab and he's making good progress." No deadline had been set for the ultimate decision on McCaw or Braid, whose third and most recent test was nearly five years ago.
Henry suggested McCaw's own instinct would be decisive and he probably would not leave his call until Saturday.
"For Richie's sake, he will make a decision whether he's going to be competitive or not before that," Henry said.
"He's playing against two of the best sevens in the world -- (George) Smith and (Phil) Waugh -- and he doesn't want to be disadvantaged in that competition and he wants to make sure that he can be competitive.
"If he thinks he can be competitive, he'll play." Either way, there will be five changes from the starting team who lost 28-30 to South Africa in Dunedin on July 12.
McCaw or Braid will replace Adam Thomson, Brad Thorn returns from suspension for lock Anthony Boric while veteran Greg Somerville replaces tighthead prop John Afoa.
In the backs, centre Richard Kahui will play in place of Conrad Smith while winger Anthony Tuitavake replaces Rudi Wulf, shifting Sitiveni Sivivatu from the right to left wing.
Of those changes, the axing of Smith is most contentious as he is enjoying a rich vein of form.
Kahui will play just his second test, dredging memories of the leadup to last year's Bledisloe Cup test in Melbourne when Luke McAlister was named out of position at centre. He was embarrassed defensively by Wallabies veteran Stirling Mortlock as the hosts won 20-15.
Assistant coach Wayne Smith based his confidence in Kahui on the 23-year-old's bright display form on debut in the second test against England last month.
"It wasn't any lack of form from Conrad, I can tell you that," Wayne Smith said.
"They're both pretty young centres. Richard's played against (Mortlock) at Super 14 level. He plays with a lot of edge. We just feel for this game, this opposition on this track, he's the right selection." Conrad Smith has at least made it on to the reserves, with Leon MacDonald not considered for the bench as he is "pretty battered and bruised", according to Henry.
The only other injury issue surrounds ongoing ankle pain for lock Ali Williams although Henry said he was feeling better this week than in the leadup to the two South African tests.
Meanwhile, Henry defended his team's decision to build up for the test in Wellington until Thursday, saying it was made a year ago with the aim of keeping the players at home longer.
"They're travelling a lot and they're overseas a lot so it gives the Wellington boys an opportunity to be at home and it reflects what the Super 14 boys do too. They're used to going on the Thursday to play on the Saturday," Henry said.
The All Blacks had traditionally travelled to Australia early in test week but often found logistics such as the quality and proximity of practice facilities did not match what was available at home.
The team trained in cold, wet conditions today, evoking a wry smile from Henry.
"After today's training I thought it might have been pretty good to be in Sydney. It was mentioned by a number of the players."
