As All Blacks tour auditions go, they don’t get any more blatant than this weekend for lock Jeremy Thrush.

The 28-year-old will make his first Test start against the Wallabies in Dunedin on Saturday, pushing out Brodie Retallick to start alongside Sam Whitelock in a surprise selection.

Coach Steve Hansen dismisses suggestions the Test represents an 11th-hour trial for Thrush, whose three late bench appearances against France and Argentina (twice) have been his only chance to impress.

Hansen’s comments came as a relief to Thrush, although the seasoned Wellingtonian hinted that he knows what is potentially at stake, with the 36-man squad to tour Japan and Europe to be unveiled on Sunday.

He is determined not to let down the standards set by Whitelock and Retallick, with the pair regarded as among the premier performers this year at both Super Rugby and Test level.

“They’ve been playing bloody well. I guess I’ve got to live up to that role and just do my things right,” Thrush said.

“It is my first Test (start) so I guess I’m finding my feet but I want to go out there and hopefully just carry on from where those two have gone.”

Thrush’s tour spot is under threat from Canterbury pair Luke Romano and Dominic Bird, who are both nearly recovered from long-term injuries.

Romano, 27, established himself as a Test regular last year but has been sidelined by a groin tear suffered two months ago against Australia in Sydney.

The uncapped Bird, 22, was named ahead of Thrush for an All Blacks training camp in May but damaged a chest muscle soon afterwards and hasn’t played since.

Hansen says the fitness of both players is being assessed this week. But he won’t say if they have the inside running on Thrush for a tour squad which is likely to feature four specialist locks.