All Blacks coach Ian Foster has defended the selection criteria that will be used for the North against South Island rugby derby.

Players will be chosen based on the first province they played for professionally.

Foster is aware of the popular high school method of selection, but told Martin Devlin it is more or less the same.

The match is set for August 29 with a venue yet to be determined.

Foster is also keen to incorporate the Pacific Islands in their hopeful return to action in 2020.

While the international calendar has been thrown into chaos due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there have been extensive talks between NZ Rugby and Rugby Australia around a Bledisloe Cup series.

Foster confirms they've also been in discussions with Pacific nations, but it's proving a tougher schedule to sort.