Luke McAlister has rejoined the All Blacks in Dunedin, with the veteran of 22 tests set to play his first international for 20 months on Saturday night.

As expected, McAlister was added to the All Blacks' Iveco Series squad as a replacement for Richard Kahui.

The latter is out of the remainder of the 2009 rugby season after requiring a shoulder reconstruction.

McAlister played his first match in the southern hemisphere last Saturday since August 2007 when he lined up for the Barbarians against the Wallabies in Sydney.

All Black head coach Graham Henry had flown to Sydney to watch the match from the Sydney Football Stadium's stands.

On the evidence of what McAlister showed during the Barbarians' land-slide loss, it was decided he was the best replacement for Kahui.

The other leading contender had been Blues centre/wing Anthony Tuitavake.

"Luke returns to the All Blacks squad better for the rugby experience in the northern hemisphere and will provide us with more backline options for the Iveco Series and beyond," Henry said.

McAlister had initially been named in the Junior All Blacks side for the IRB's Pacific Nations Cup, which kicks off this week.

His place in that team has been the Crusaders' Stephen Brett.

McAlister, 25 played 22 tests for the All Blacks, re-signed with the New Zealand Rugby Union earlier this year through to 2012.

The NZRU Board exercised its discretion over selection eligibility in April allowing McAlister to come into the All Blacks squad if injury ruled out players.

Kahui is set to have his reconstruction in Auckland this week.

It is expected that Isaia Toeava will start at centre against France at Carisbrook on Saturday night.

As well as Kahui being scratched from the side, fellow All Black centre Conrad Smith is also out of the men in black's first match of 2009 with a hamstring strain.

McAlister is likely to be named on the bench for the opening match of the Iveco Series.