All Blacks coach Steve Hansen speaks to Julian Savea and Waisake Naholo at training in Dunedin this week.

There is reward, recognition, a reprieve and presumably no respite for Wales in the All Blacks team for the third and final test in Dunedin.

Hurricanes wing Julian Savea has completed his penance for a poor performance in the series opener at Eden Park - he returns to the left wing for Waisake Naholo, a selection likely to irk the locals inside Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday night.

However, Highlanders supporters should be placated by the presence of debutants Elliot Dixon - on the blindside flank for Jerome Kaino - and Liam Squire on the bench.

All Blacks/Facebook All Blacks coach Steve Hansen reveals how his new recruits have impressed him to earn spots in the squad for the third Wales test.

Lima Sopoaga is also in the reserves of a 23-man squad that features 12 changes to the side that extended the All Blacks' winning streak over Wales to 28 tests since 1953 in Wellington last weekend.

READ MORE:

* Wales make two changes for third test

* Barrett, Aaron Smith worry Wales

* Wales lose trio to injury

* Roberts in doubt for Wales after head knock

* ABs warned not to let their guards down

* Dixon and McKenzie a chance to debut?

* Savea poised for return

* 'Friendly fire' won't stop Crotty

ROB JEFFERIES/GETTY IMAGES Highlanders' blindside flanker Elliot Dixon makes his test debut in the third and final test against Wales in Dunedin on Saturday.

Squire's promotion at the expense of Ardie Savea - a standout in the series-sealing 36-22 victory at Westpac Stadium - is a talking point, though also a logical move given this is the only opportunity to assess whether the rangy No 8 is capable of stepping up a level.

The same rationale applies to his Highlanders cohort Dixon, who was considered unlucky to miss last year's World Cup squad.

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph was rapt the 26-year-old has inherited his old test jumper, if only temporarily from the rested Kaino.

MICHAEL BRADLEY/GETTY IMAGES Liam Squire will make his All Blacks debut from the bench on Saturday.

"He's better than me. He's a quality athlete. He's proven in the last couple of years he's as good as the sixes that are going around in New Zealand," he said, before sounding a note of caution.

"But there is a step up. It's more a mental one. If he can front up in that area, he'll be good to go."

Auckland tighthead prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi is the other newcomer - he backs up Charlie Faumuina at tighthead as Owen Franks watches this test from the stands.

HAGEN HOPKINS/GETTY IMAGES Beauden Barrett attempts to split the Welsh midfield of Jonathan Davies, left, and Jamie Roberts during the second test in Wellington.

Despite its dead rubber status, the final test before the Rugby Championship is an opportune moment for Blues midfielder George Moala, Chiefs halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Crusaders Codie Taylor hooker to gain some traction.

Moala, who played his solitary test in Samoa last July, starts at centre ahead of Seta Tamanivalu; Kerr-Barlow makes a welcome return from injury to displace TJ Perenara while Taylor has his first run of the series after arriving battered and bruised from Super Rugby duty.

He replaces Nathan Harris as Dane Coles' understudy while the other change on the bench sees Luke Romano take over from Patrick Tuipulotu as second row cover.

Although assistant coach Ian Foster spoke optimistically about the rehabilitation from injury of Malakai Fekitoa and Aaron Cruden, realistically neither was likely to be involved.

Cruden's steady recovery from a worrying neck injury was never going to be compromised so Beauden Barrett starts a test for the first time since the World Cup pool game against Namibia last September.

Sopoaga's promotion for his second test since an impressive debut at Ellis Park last year means Damian McKenzie joins an injured Charlie Ngatai as the only squad members not to be involved on game day.

ALL BLACKS: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, George Moala, Ryan Crotty, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (captain), Sam Cane, Elliot Dixon, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Charlie Faumuina, Dane Coles, Joe Moody. Reserves: Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Luke Romano, Liam Squire, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Lima Sopoaga, Waisake Naholo.

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