Five starting changes evoke visions of a drastic overhaul and yet there is strength in key areas for the All Blacks this week.

Beauden Barrett’s combination with Malakai Fekitoa attracts most interest in Sunday’s test against the Pumas in La Plata for its rookie status.

There will be nerves about Fekitoa being thrown in the unfamiliar second five-eighth role to fill Ma’a Nonu’s absence, but Barrett and centre Conrad Smith should do enough to guide him through his third test start.

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Barrett will also be keen to nail his second start in his preferred first-five role – and improve his goal kicking from the first time he wore the 10 jersey – after Aaron Cruden failed to make the flight to Argentina.

“Beauden has really stepped up to the plate,” All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said.

“The Argentinean test [in Napier] was good for him. He learnt a lot out of that. He’s come into this week looking to boss the team and knows that is his role.”

To minimise tweaks elsewhere, the same back three has been retained. That sees Israel Dagg remain at fullback with Ben Smith on the right wing.

Up front the dual returns of blindside flanker Jerome Kaino and lock Sam Whitelock from injury are major boosts.

“Sam, along with Brodie Retallick, have been the No. 1 locking pair that we’ve had,” Hansen said. “Jeremy Thrush has done a good job but Sam was the guy we were always going to go with if he was fit.”

Veteran hooker Keven Mealamu starts his first test in nine months after Dane Coles flew home today for the birth of his first child.

Bay of Plenty’s Nathan Harris also comes onto the bench where he could earn his first test cap.

“Nathan is developing very well. It’s well known we don’t have a lot of depth in this position but we feel that Nathan is ready and capable of doing a good job.”

Richie McCaw is also set to notch another notable achievement, equalling Sir Colin Meads’ record of 133 games for the All Blacks with the chance to surpass the legendary lock in South Africa next week.

On the bench, Sam Cane will cover all three loose-forward positions with Liam Messam still recovering from his quad injury.

Hansen indicated Messam could have played this week but has instead opted to give him the chance to be fully fit for the Springboks next week.

“Jerome and Liam have been sharing that No 6 role. Both of them have been out injured and Steven Luatua got a go at it.

“With Jerome being right we’re looking to give Liam another breather with that quad of his and see how he is next week. Jerome is 100 per cent so it was a pretty choice.”

Luatua has not trained this week after suffering diarrhea but may still have missed out with Hansen keen to have Thrush cover lock from the reserves. Thrush will also be joined on the bench by Colin Slade.

“There is an expectation we will have a performance full of excitement, energy, physicality and accuracy. To beat the Argentineans will require that of us, as they have been playing very well and have improved a lot since last year. With this being only their second home game of in the Championship there will be huge expectation on them to win.”

All Blacks: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (Captain), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Wyatt Crockett
Replacements: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Ben Franks, 19 Jeremy Thrush, 20 Sam Cane, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Colin Slade, 23 Cory Jane.