Kieran Read is expected to assume the captaincy for the All Blacks © Getty Images

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There's not a lot of chopping left to do for All Blacks coach Steve Hansen before he unveils his first squad of the year to face France.

A group of about 30 will be named on Sunday for three home Tests, starting at Eden Park on June 8 - the first meeting of the teams since the 2011 IRB World Cup final at the same venue. Hansen is set to name a hardened squad, calling largely on the players who were unbeaten in 2012 until the jolting 38-21 loss to England at Twickenham.

That loss prompted calls for some of the older heads to make way. The calls became shouts as a group of incumbents battled poor form and injury in Super Rugby.

However, Hansen stayed loyal by including veterans wing Hosea Gear, inside centre Ma'a Nonu, lock Ali Williams, prop Tony Woodcock and 34-year-old hookers Keven Mealamu and Andrew Hore in his 37-strong group to attend two training camps last month.

Williams' subsequent international retirement means just a handful of players need to be culled, with Hansen unlikely to look beyond those involved at the camps.

A finger injury to lock Sam Whitelock ruled him out and Gear's announcement on Friday that he is leaving for French club Toulouse after the Super Rugby season will probably count against him.

It leaves Hansen with lean pickings among his midfield and outside backs, with centres Richard Kahui and Tamati Ellison having joined a growing exodus to Japan. Exciting Blues trio Rene Ranger, Charles Piutau and Frank Halai - the latter two uncapped - are set to fill holes. However, uncertainty surrounds wrecking ball centre Ranger, who has reportedly signed with French club Montpellier but may yet back out.

Blues youngster Francis Saili and Tom Taylor (Crusaders) are contesting a back-up midfield berth, with the uncapped Taylor's versatility and accurate goalkicking potentially in his favour. Taylor's inclusion would count against Beauden Barrett being named as a third fly-half behind Dan Carter and the in-form Aaron Cruden.

Four scrum-halves will be whittled down to three. TJ Perenara (Hurricanes) may miss out to Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Chiefs) in the third berth behind Aaron Smith and Piri Weepu.

A battle between the uncapped young blindside flankers may be won by Steven Luatua (Blues) over Brad Shields (Hurricanes) while Sam Cane (Chiefs) should be the only openside specialist included.

Uncapped locks Dominic Bird (Crusaders) and Jeremy Thrush (Hurricanes) are set to benefit from the absence of Williams and Whitelock, while the five props and three hookers who attended the training camps should all be rubber-stamped.

No. 8 Kieran Read will inherit the captaincy in the absence of veteran flanker Richie McCaw, who is completing a six-month break from the game.

Possible squad - Backs: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Charles Piutau, Julian Savea, Frank Halai, Rene Ranger, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Tom Taylor, Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith, Piri Weepu.

Forwards: Keiran Read (capt), Sam Cane, Victor Vito, Liam Messam, Steven Luatua, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Jeremy Thrush, Dominic Bird, Owen Franks, Ben Afeaki, Tony Woodcock, Ben Franks, Wyatt Crockett, Keven Mealamu, Andrew Hore, Dane Coles.