Veteran Adam Blair has received a late call-up for New Zealand at the World Cup Nines tournament, which starts in Sydney on Friday night.
Blair replaces Braden Hamlin-Uele, who is nursing a calf injury and wants to be fit for upcoming tests against Australia and the Great Britain Lions.
Blair only returned to Auckland on Thursday from a holiday on the Gold Coast, so he quickly hopped on a plane to Sydney to attend the team's final training session at Leichhardt Oval.
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"Unfortunately, young Braden had a minor strain in his calf," said New Zealand coach Michael Maguire. "He should be OK.
"When I rang 'Blairy' yesterday to ask him, he said 'I'm there'."
Earlier in the week, Sydney Roosters forward Zane Tetevano and Canberra Raiders fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad replaced the unavailable James Fisher-Harris and Jordan Rapana respectively.
Shaun Johnson will captain the team in their opening match against Australia at 11pm.
Updated Kiwis nines squad: Leeson Ah Mau, Adam Blair, Dylan Brown, Corey Harawira-Naera, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Jamayne Isaako, Shaun Johnson, Jeremy Marshall-King, Ken Maumalo, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Briton Nikora, Kodi Nikorima, Kevin Proctor, Jordan Rapana, Bailey Simonsson, Reimis Smith, Joseph Tapine, Zane Tetevano.
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