All Black Aaron Cruden warms up during the Mitre 10 Cup rugby match between Manawatu and Otago.

OPINION: Classy Aaron Cruden could have earned a Bledisloe Cup recall after emergeing unscathed from the first phase of his rugby comeback.

Cruden's confident return from a groin strain in Manawatu's unlucky loss to Otago on Friday night should give test coach Steve Hansen the impetus to include the experienced playmaker in the test 22 to play Australia next weekend.

The 27-year-old - sidelined since September 10 - made the most of his 40 minutes at Arena Manawatu.

He took the ball confidently to the line, offloaded deftly, conjured a couple of clever inside balls, made a dab for the line which was only just stopped short, hurled some handy cut-out passes, put on a nifty step or two and generally added some zip to Manawatu's spirited second-half revival.

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Five offloads in the first 17 minutes signalled Cruden's intent to test himself ahead of next week's Bledisloe Cup test in Auckland. He even copped a high shot without complaint.

Cruden's class eventually told with a simple but effective pass to set up Ambrose Curtis in the leadup to Manawatu's second try, but his Turbos team-mates generally failed to finish the opportunities he created.

It wasn't Cruden's fault they lost 21-14.

They're not one-eyed in Manawatu - fans can still see beneath the brim of the garish green buckets which pass for fashion in Palmerston North.

So there was a resounding cheer when the hometown hero trotted on for the start of the second spell.

It was his first time in a Turbos top since 2014.

The 27-year-old - who has played more tests (42) than games for Manawatu (33) - came into the game with Manawatu trailing 18-7.

The game was at a tipping point - and so, too, is Cruden's career.

This time last year, he was watching the 2015 Rugby World Cup from his couch after an early season knee injury.

But, looking at the longer view, he knew Dan Carter was flitting off to France after the final. His cherished chance of becoming the All Blacks' undisputed No 1 first five-eighths was within his grasp.

Back then, Beauden Barrett was a bench player, more often than not employed to run at tiring defences from fullback.

What a difference a year makes.

Cruden had a satisfactory Super Rugby season with the Chiefs, but Barrett has lit up New Zealand rugby in a manner not seen since Carter was in his pomp.

Barrett steered the Hurricanes to their maiden Super title, but the All Blacks coaches kept faith with Cruden in the No 10 jumper.

That soon changed and Barrett has made every post a winner on his way to an almost inevitable player of the year award.

Cruden lost any chance of putting the heat back on his rival when he succumbed to his groin niggle.

He hasn't played since win over Argentina in Hamilton when he came off the bench.

But Cruden - who first turned out for the Turbos as a teen in 2008 - put his hand up to play for Manawatu this week.

Coach Jeremy Cotter injected him after an ordinary first half by the Turbos.

Cruden's very presence seemed to galvanise Manawatu and he didn't shirk the early work, making his first dart soon after taking the park.

It's only the Mitre 10 Cup after all, but Hansen should have been pleased with Cruden's contribution and might be ready to consider him for Bledisloe Cup duty next week.

The All Blacks need to find a way to keep Cruden in the fold because coach Cotter's big brother, Vern's new French club, Montpellier, is reportedly dangling $1.5 million a season to sign after the 2017 New Zealand season.

Cruden clearly has a big call to make. With Barrett in such surreal form, is he better to take the money and run?

No-one could blame him for going, but players of Cruden's class don't grow on trees, and New Zealand rugby would be the poorer for losing the Turbos' energiser.