Hook limped off during the 34-13 victory over Canada last Friday but has been bracketed alongside his Ospreys colleague Dan Biggar on the Wales bench.

Gloucester scrum-half Gareth Cooper has seen off the challenge of Dwayne Peel, while 19-year-old Cardiff Blues wing Leigh Halfpenny keeps out experienced Scarlets speedster Mark Jones.

Wales captain Ryan Jones again features at blindside flanker, with the Blues’ Andy Powell – man of the match in the 20-15 defeat against South Africa 10 days ago – keeping number eight duties.

Gatland said: “James Hook has shown signs of improvement in the knee injury that forced his withdrawal against Canada.

“Although he will not train today, we will be looking for him to run out later in the week to prove his fitness.

“If he is not available to us, his Ospreys colleague Dan Biggar will provide fly-half cover from the bench.”

Despite losing to the Springboks, Wales created enough opportunities for a win that Gatland was furious his RBS 6 Nations champions did not record.

But that complete starting line-up now has another chance, Wales having gone 55 years and 19 Tests without beating the All Blacks.

Two confirmed changes on the bench see Blues prop John Yapp in for an injured Duncan Jones and Newport Gwent Dragons lock Luke Charteris replacing Ian Gough. Biggar, 19, would be a third

switch.

Cooper, meanwhile, has been retained – despite Gloucester selecting him in their match-day 22 for Guinness Premiership duty on Sunday after the International Rugby Board ruled that Wales did not have to release him.

Gatland added: “The coaches, the fans, the players and everyone involved in rugby in Wales knows exactly how big a game this is for us.

“The All Blacks are the team to beat in the world game. They are the yardstick by which every nation measures themselves – and we are no different – but we are relishing the opportunity presented to us.

“I’ve often said that it is only by playing the best teams in the world that we can improve ourselves, and we have a chance to show some big improvements on Saturday.

“In selection, we have said ’same again’ to the side which took on South Africa in our opening match of the autumn series. We were critical in-house of aspects of that performance, and that side has a chance to respond to that criticism."

TEAM:

Wales team to play New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

L Byrne (Ospreys); L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), G Cooper (Gloucester); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), M Rees (Scarlets), A Jones (Ospreys), A-W Jones (Ospreys), I Evans (Ospreys), R Jones (Ospreys, capt), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), A Powell (Cardiff Blues).

Replacements: R Hibbard (Ospreys), J Yapp (Cardiff Blues), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), D Jones (Scarlets), D Peel (Sale Sharks), J Hook (Ospreys)/D Biggar (Ospreys), A Bishop (Ospreys).