Waikato lock Mark Cooksley is back in the All Black picture when he was named in a 23-man squad for the Tri-Nations clash against the Wallabies in Dunedin on August 11.

Cooksley was the youngest lock chosen for New Zealand when he made his first Test appearance against a World XV in 1992. He played 21 All Black matches over the next two seasons, then fell out of favour with the selectors and was not recalled to international rugby until this season.

The 123kg Cooksley missed the All Blacks first four Tests due to a shoulder injury, but was named in an initial training squad after an outstanding Super 12 season.

Cooksley's return is timely as the All Blacks were severely criticised for their poor performance in the lineout during the 12-3 win against South Africa in the opening Tri-Nations clash at Cape Town.

"The reason initially for taking four locks to Dunedin is that Troy Flavell hasn't been able to train this week," All Blacks coach Smith said. "He's had an injury and we had to cover for him.

"But also Mark was in the 22 for the first test of the season, he got injured but he's made his way back. We selected him at the start of the season, he's come back pretty well so we'll look at him again."

Flavell missed training on Wednesday and Thursday due to a back problem, but is not expected to be ruled out of the Test by the injury.

The All Black squad ended a weeklong training camp at Burnham Military Camp near Christchurch on Thursday. Smith said the camp had helped to bridge the three-week gap between their first Tri-Nations Test against South Africa and the match against Australia.

All Blacks squad:
Backs: Leon MacDonald (Canterbury), Jonah Lomu (Wellington), Jeff Wilson (Otago), Doug Howlett (Auckland), Tana Umaga (Wellington), Pita Alatini (Otago), Andrew Mehrtens (Canterbury), Tony Brown (Otago), Justin Marshall (Canterbury), Byron Kelleher (Otago).

Forwards: Ron Cribb (North Harbour), Taine Randell (Otago), Marty Holah (Waikato), Reuben Thorne (Canterbury), Troy Flavell (North Harbour), Chris Jack (Canterbury), Norm Maxwell (Canterbury), Mark Cooksley (Waikato), Carl Hayman (Otago), Carl Hoeft (Otago), Greg Somerville (Canterbury), Anton Oliver (Otago, captain), Mark Hammett (Canterbury).