As speculation swirls around his future, Aaron Cruden is back in the All Blacks 23 for Saturday's Bledisloe Cup test at Eden Park.

The first five returns to the bench in one of three changes to the squad named by coach Steve Hansen.

He said Cruden comes back in because he is fully fit while Malakai Fekitoa has been allowed to freshen up after a busy start to the campaign and is back on the bench.

Cruden has been linked with a move to French club Montpellier, and comes in for Lima Sopoaga while Fekitoa replaces George Moala.

The Chiefs pivot is facing tough competition for the position not only from Beauden Barrett and Sopoaga, but could also be concerned by the rise of Richie Mo'unga from Canterbury, and Damien McKenzie from Waikato. 

Julian Savea returns to the left wing in the only change to the starting 15 with Waisake Naholo dropping out of the squad.

The matchday 23 is (with Test caps in brackets):

1. Joe Moody (19)
2. Dane Coles (45)
3. Owen Franks (86)
4. Brodie Retallick (56)
5. Samuel Whitelock (81)
6. Jerome Kaino (73)
7. Matt Todd (5)
8. Kieran Read - capt (93)
9. TJ Perenara (25)
10. Beauden Barrett (45)
11. Julian Savea (48)
12. Ryan Crotty (23)
13. Anton Lienert-Brown (5)
14. Israel Dagg (57)
15. Ben Smith (57)

16. Codie Taylor (10)
17. Wyatt Crockett (54)
18. Charlie Faumuina (41)
19. Liam Squire (5)
20. Ardie Savea (8)
21. Tawera Kerr-Barlow (23)
22. Aaron Cruden (42) 
23. Malakai Fekitoa (19)