TJ Perenara awards himself a try, after scoring for Wellington against North Harbour in 2014.

Friday's opponents have got TJ Perenara thinking.

The All Blacks and Hurricanes halfback doesn't get many games in for Wellington these days. Having made his debut for the Lions back in 2010, while still in Year 13 at Mana College, the 26-year-old's only gone on to make 15 more appearances in the black and gold.

A veteran of more than 100 games for the Hurricanes and 47 tests for New Zealand, Perenara will now don the No.9 when Wellington host Southland at Westpac Stadium on Friday night.

STUFF Halfback TJ Perenara gets a kick away against Canterbury, in his debut provincial season of 2010.

"I was just reviewing the Southland games from this year and one of the games was at home, and I played my first game [for Wellington] against Southland in Southland and it brought back a few memories," Perenara said on Wednesday.

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"I remember getting cramp in like the 72nd minute, or something like that, and I'd never got cramp in a game before. Just the step up from college footy and club footy was a big jump for me.

STUFF TJ Perenara was still at Mana College when he made his Wellington debut, against Southland.

"I was playing with some pretty cool people that day as well. I played against [Southland prop] Jamie Mackintosh [and] I think he punched Colesy [Wellington hooker Dane Coles] in the head that day and broke his tooth."

Coles is the only other player who's still part of the Wellington set up. Gone, but not forgotten, from that day in Invercargill are such Lions' luminaries as Neemia Tialata, Julian Savea, Brad Shields, John Schwalger, Jeremy Thrush, Victor Vito, Charlie Ngatai, Alapati Leiua and Lima Sopoaga.

​Perenara's reputation preceded him, when he wandered back into Wellington training on Monday, which doesn't mean he felt entirely comfortable.

"I didn't at the start. Like, I came back in and you're away from the environment for so long, so it's not something you walk into and feel comfortable straight away. But the boys got around me and told me the game plan and brang me straight into the culture and made me welcome, which was pretty cool."

As vice-captain of the Hurricanes, Perenara's used to having a big say in what happens at the training base the Super Rugby franchise shares with Wellington. But "it's not my ship," he said of the Lions.

Instead it belongs to first-year skipper Matt Proctor.

"Matt was probably a leader in the environment before he thought he was. We all sort of look up to him and most of the leading he does is through his actions and what he does out on the field and in the gym and stuff," said Perenara.

"He's really found a way to influence through his words as well and that comes with time in the saddle and having responsibilities put on you but, as I said, he was a leader in this environment before he knew it, just with the way he holds himself, the way he applies himself in-game, the way he puts his body on the line.

"I think people naturally follow him."

Perenara isn't the only All Black in Wellington's line-up for Friday. Ardie Savea starts at openside flanker, with Vaea Fifita on the blindside and Asafo Aumua at hooker.

Utility Wes Goosen isn't an international player yet, but he's of immense value to the Lions. A centre, who often plays wing, Goosen will line-up at fullback this week.

The most notable omission is that of prop Jeff To'omaga-Allen, who has a knee injury that isn't thought to be serious, while No.8 Thomas Waldrom is having a rest

AT A GLANCE

What: Wellington team to meet Southland at Westpac Stadium on Friday

Wellington: Wes Goosen, Ben Lam, Matt Proctor (c), Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Malo Tuitama, Jackson Garden-Bachop, TJ Perenara, Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Ardie Savea, Vaea Fifita, Will Mangos, James Blackwell, Joel Hintz, Asafo Aumua, Tolu Fahamokioa. Reserves: James O'Reilly, Xavier Numia, Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, Galu Taufale, Greg Foe, Carlos Price, TJ Va'a, Billy Proctor.