Warren Gatland, look away now. After preparations for the Test series against New Zealand were dented, if not derailed, by a second midweek defeat, the size of the task awaiting the British & Irish Lions has come sharply into focus with Steve Hansen naming the strongest All Blacks side available to face Samoa on Friday.

Aaron Smith’s selection at scrum-half, in favour of the in-form TJ Perenara, is perhaps the most eye-catching choice considering his slump last year while the Barrett brothers – Beauden, Scott and Jordie – may make history as the first set of three siblings to play in the same New Zealand side, if the latter two come off the bench. What strikes most about Hansen’s side, however, is the heavy artillery it contains. It is ostensibly a fixture for New Zealand – who have not played together since last November – to get rid of any lingering rust but increasingly, and considering the Lions have lost two of their four matches so far, it presents the opportunity to make a statement.

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Kieran Read, Dane Coles and Ryan Crotty are all absent through injury – though Read and Crotty are expected to be fit for the first Test – but Ben Smith captains the side from full-back, having missed out on the Highlanders’ win against the Lions on Tuesday. Sonny Bill Williams plays his first international since the 2015 Rugby World Cup final alongside Anton Lienert‑Brown in the centres while Israel Dagg, the top international try‑scorer in 2016, keeps his place on the right wing despite the form of Waisake Naholo against Gatland’s side in Dunedin. Julian Savea will start on the opposite flank.

Up front, Joe Moody, Codie Taylor and Owen Franks reprise the front row that came off second best for the Crusaders against the Lions – in the eyes of the referee Mathieu Raynal at least – while Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock again combine in the second row. Jerome Kaino makes his first appearance since April following knee surgery – his performance will be of great interest to Hansen – while Sam Cane is at openside flanker and Ardie Savea is named at No8.

In total, it is a match-day 23 with 871 caps – Jordie Barrett and the back-rower Vaea Fifita are due to win their first from the bench, where they are joined by the Highlanders’ fly-half Lima Sopoaga, Nathan Harris, Charlie Faumuina, Wyatt Crockett, Scott Barrett and Perenara. Sopoaga gets the nod with Aaron Cruden nursing a knee injury but he is another expected to be in contention next week.

Hansen rarely resists the temptation to throw a few barbs in the Lions’ direction but the fact that New Zealand have even arranged this match – they rarely bother with warm-up games before a series – can be considered a sign of respect. The opportunity to blow away the cobwebs outweighs the danger posed by a fired-up Samoa leaving a mark on any of Hansen’s players.

“Whilst we asked for this game to help us prepare for the Lions series, once it became a reality, it then took on its own importance, this is a Test match against a quality and very capable opponent,” he said. “Samoa are about to kick off the qualifying stage of their Rugby World Cup campaign, so this will make them even more dangerous. The Samoans are always a challenge and will play with a high level of physicality and skill. At the very minimum, we will need to match that.

“This [training] first week has been about bringing together the players from the five different Super clubs and reintroducing them to the All Blacks way. We’ve had a good week and are really looking forward to this match.”

Preceding the All Blacks’ match against Samoa at Eden Park are Wales, who face Tonga to open their summer tour. Wales’s acting head coach, Robin McBryde, has named three debutants including the Scarlets’ 22-year-old winger Steff Evans, who finished last season as the Pro12’s top try-scorer. Elsewhere, Thomas Young of Wasps wins his first cap at openside, as does Seb Davies in the second row.

Jamie Roberts captains the side alongside Scott Williams in the centres while Alex Cuthbert starts on the right wing with the Auckland-born Gareth Anscombe at full-back, meaning Keelan Giles is still awaiting his first Wales cap. Gareth and Sam Davies form the half-backs for Wales in a match that was originally due to take place in the Tongan capital of Nuku’alofa but was rescheduled amid safety concerns over the Teufaiva Sport Stadium.