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Anton Lienert-Brown will start at centre ahead of Rieko Ioane in what is a significant change to the All Blacks for their first Rugby Championship Test against Argentina in Wellington on Saturday night.

Lienert-Brown impressed when starting at second-five inside debutant Billy Proctor against Fiji in San Diego recently after coming off the reserves bench in the two Tests against England.

The Chiefs player will start outside All Blacks vice-captain Jordie Barrett at Sky Stadium, with Ioane dropped to the bench.

Ioane’s demotion, after mixed performances against England in the July Test series victory, shouldn’t be considered a surprise. His distribution skills and awareness in the No.13 jersey were put under the spotlight after that series and he appears to have work to do to bypass Lienert-Brown and Proctor, who had an excellent debut at the Snapdragon Stadium.

Elsewhere, outside back Will Jordan makes a welcome return and will take a spot on the bench after his long-term shoulder injury. Beauden Barrett, a bench role player against England, retains the fullback starting spot after his breakthrough three Tests post sabbatical, with the selectors sticking with wing incumbents Mark Tele’a and Sevu Reece.

A finger injury to skipper Scott Barrett means Tupou Vaa’i and Sam Darry make up the second row, with Josh Lord on the bench.

It was revealed today that fellow lock Patrick Tuipulotu has a calf injury, suffered in training, with loose forward Luke Jacobson picking up a hamstring problem during the week.

Ethan Blackadder starts at blindside flanker after starting in the No.7 jersey against Fiji and joins Dalton Papali’i and skipper Ardie Savea in the loose forward trio.

Halfback TJ Perenara returns from a knee injury suffered in the first Test against England to start inside regular No.10 Damian McKenzie, with Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor and Tyrel Lomax making up the front row.

It is the ninth time that Savea has led the All Blacks in a Test.

“We’ve laid a solid foundation through the first three Tests of the year and prepared well this week for what will be a physical Test against Argentina,” Savea said.

All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson said: “It’s a special night for Ardie leading the team in his home town and it’s great to have TJ and Will back in the mix. Once again there were some close selection calls, but we’ve picked a squad to win the key contests and perform on Saturday. We know Argentina will bring a lot of physicality and passion to the Test and we’re ready for that challenge.”

Loose forward Wallace Sititi, who made his Test debut in San Diego, has another big opportunity after being named on the bench.

There is no room for former skipper Sam Cane, back to full fitness after recovering from a long-term back injury.