Lee Stensness, the former All Black who was an integral part of the original champion Blues Super 12 teams, is in the mix for a recall.

The 31-year-old Stensness has returned from an injury-affected stint in France and is under consideration for the final back position in the 28-man Blues squad.

The creative flair of Stensness could persuade the Blues to include him by the Super 12 selection deadline this week. Others in the frame include Orene Ai'i, Hayden Reid and, maybe, Rua Tipoki (pictured).

The Blues are remaining cautious and low key about a possible Stensness return. But he has had a medical check which gave a complete pass mark on the knee injury which has affected his recent career.

Stensness had a couple of games at flyhalf but was mainly the stalwart inside centre in the Blues teams which won the first two Super 12 titles before losing the 1998 final to the Crusaders.

Stensness then left Auckland for Toulouse, which also ended any chance of continuing an All Blacks career which included eight Tests up until 1997. He will be in a crop of add-on players who line up in a Blues inter-squad match on Friday, as they prepare for the opening trial game against the Chiefs at Waitakere Stadium on Friday next week.

Coach Peter Sloane and assistant Grant Fox had wanted an inside back as their final squad member, but hamstring injuries to centre/wing Rico Gear and wing Rupeni Caucaunibuca mean they may initially need a player who can cover wider positions.

But while Fox and Sloane are still evaluating their options, Stensness is a possibility. "No one has seen him play for a while and maybe the time is not right, but he is back here for good and keen to play," Sloane said.

"He is such an exciting footballer with tremendous vision ... and he's medically sound. The thing he would give us is experience and perhaps we're a little bit short in that.

"The other experienced player we have around that area is Mark Mayerhofler but he hasn't exactly had an injury free time in recent years.

"It's all about getting the balance of youth and experience. We'll just wait and see how it goes - Lee's coming back from injury and maybe he needs to convince himself he's right."

The add-on players for Friday's inter-squad match will include Aucklanders Ai'i and Justin Wilson plus North Harbour's Rod Penney and their Otago recruit Reid, who might all consider themselves in with a good chance for the final position.

Tipoki has been invited but has yet to confirm his attendance. There have been concerns about some of his off-field behaviour and Sloane has had two meetings with the sharp-stepping North Harbour centre.

Meanwhile, Sloane said Carlos Spencer would definitely start the season as a flyhalf, despite a statement last year from All Blacks coach John Mitchell that he saw Spencer as a fullback.

Sloane said that after talking to Mitchell, he did not believe Spencer's All Blacks chances would suffer. "Carlos Spencer will play flyhalf for the Blues but there is a realistic chance he will play centre and fullback during the season.

"You're always going to take some injury hits. Then it will be up to form and what the selectors think," Sloane said.

"Carlos is a hugely talented flyhalf, and we are lucky to also have someone of James Arlidge's ability there." - Sapa-NZPA