Nehe Milner-Skudder is one of three current All Blacks named in the World XV to play Japan.

Three current All Blacks will join Kiwi World Cup winners Ma'a Nonu, Wyatt Crockett and Andy Ellis in Robbie Deans' World XV to play Japan.

Wing Nehe Milner-Skudder and flankers Dillon Hunt and Jackson Hemopo will play in Friday's match in Osaka, according to a report on the Kyodo News website.

Head coach Steve Hansen's decision to allow the trio to play for the World XV is aimed at giving them game-time ahead of the All Blacks' test against Japan in Tokyo on November 3.

They were not required for duty for Saturday's Bledisloe Cup test against Australia in Yokohama.

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Anthony Au-Yeung Jackson Hemopo will play for the World XV against Japan in a possible prelude to the All Blacks' test in Tokyo the following week.

Hansen has named a 32-man squad for the Bledisloe Cup test but selected another 19 players - including Milner-Skudder, Hunt and Hemopo - for the Japan game to enable him to send his frontline stars to Europe early to prepare to play England and Ireland.

Hemopo, Hunt and Milner-Skudder now stand to play Japan twice in successive weeks - and collect a hefty match fee for their World XV appearance.

All will welcome the game-time as a step-up from Mitre 10 Cup provincial duty.

Milner-Skudder, a World Cup winner in 2015, has been limited to 12 test appearances after injuries in recent years.

His only test appearance in 2018 came against Argentina in Nelson.

Shaun Botterill Ma'a Nonu - pictured in his last test for the All Blacks in the 2015 World Cup final - will play for the World XV against Japan this weekend.

Hemopo, 24, made his test bow against France in June and has had two appearances off the bench,

Hunt, 23, played in one non-test game on last year's northern hemisphere tour but has yet to win his first cap.

Ellis will captain the World XV, which will be coached by Deans - in Japan as head coach of the Panasonic Wild Knights - and Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson.

Deans has bolstered his World XV squad with Nonu - recently returned from France to sign for the Blues - and Crockett, who retired from the All Blacks this year but played for the Tasman Mako in the Mitre 10 Cup.

They were part of the All Blacks' World Cup winning squad in 2015 while Nonu and Ellis were members of the 2011 Rugby World Cup gold medal group.

Two-cap former All Blacks halfback Augustine Pulu - now playing for a Japanese club - is also part of the World XV.

Nonu told the Kyodo News that he was keen to play in Japan again after an off-season with the Ricoh Black Rams in 2011-12.

"Japan is a great place to play," he said. "And I'm really looking forward to getting back up there again. The crowds really get into the game. The excitement of the fans creates a great atmosphere.

"It won't be easy for us though. Japan is developing a really strong team. After beating South Africa [at the last Rugby World Cup], and drawing with France last year, they'll back themselves against anyone."

Former Springboks captain Adrian Strauss headlines a strong South African contingent in the World XV while ex-Tonga skipper Nili Latu has also been included.