Veteran All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu will be consigned to the Blues reserve bench for a third straight Super Rugby match when they face the Queensland Reds in Brisbane.

Blues coach Sir John Kirwan has yet to confirm his starting team for the Friday fixture but says the in-form James Parsons will start at hooker for the seventh time in eight games this season.

Mealamu, 34, sat out the first five weeks of the season to create an extended off-season break but since returning has failed to usurp North Harbour captain Parsons, 26, from the No.2 jersey.

Coach Sir John Kirwan brought the 102-Test veteran off the reserve bench in victories over the Highlanders and Hurricanes.

“JP’s going well, Kevvie’s going well, we’ve got a really nice bit of competition going there,” Kirwan told reporters.

“We know what Kevvie can bring us but JP’s also playing the house down. We’ll see what happens the week after.”

Mealamu has plenty to prove, with All Blacks coach Steve Hansen publicly stating hooker is one position placed under scrutiny by the national selectors.

Hansen has warned that a handful of his senior players will make way over the next 18 months as he rejuvenates his squad.

Mealamu, who is under pressure along with Andrew Hore to retain his spot, has stated he wants to play at the 2015 World Cup in England.