"Youth is usually considered no substitute for experience -- unless you coach a New Zealand Super 14 rugby side." NZPA's Chris Barclay reports

A year-long country wide player exodus has given the five franchises little choice but to place their faith in a burgeoning group of age-group representatives.

That reliance was reflected when the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) released the 28-man squads designed to retrieve that silverware from South Africa.

The loss of All Blacks personnel across the board and a fair slice of the tier below has translated to 28 players being involved in the competition for the first time.

Another eight are returning after missing the cut this season to fill the void left by the likes of test try-scoring record holder Doug Howlett and front row rock Carl Hayman.

Hardest hit by player defections, the Highlanders have had to cobble a diverse group featuring nine newcomers.

The fact the four provinces included in the revamped provincial competition last year -- Manawatu, Counties-Manukau, Tasman and Hawke's Bay -- provide 17 players to the squads indicated who thinly the player depth has been spread in some areas.

Hawke's Bay can at least point to their giant-killing Air NZ Cup campaign as justification for a half dozen of their squad being promoted to higher honours.

New Zealand under-19 wing Zac Guildford's elevation to the Hurricanes, as a replacement for last year's bolter David Smith, is indicative of the selection policies employed by management.

Hurricanes head coach Colin Cooper has also ignored more seasoned alternatives to blood hooker Hika Elliott, prop Jacob Ellison and lock Jeremy Thrush among his All Blacks-laden pack.

His Crusaders counterpart Robbie Deans has selected a trio of untested teenagers -- under-19 wings Sean Maitland, Kade Poki and raw loose forward Nasi Manu.

The Aaron Mauger-less midfield will be patrolled by fellow youngsters Tim Bateman and Hamish Gard.

Deans also has former national under-21 captain George Whitelock at his disposal after the promising loose forward -- a back-up to Richie McCaw -- was lured north from Dunedin.

The loss of Whitelock, a provincial debutant with Otago this year, encapsulated the challenge new Highlanders head coach Glenn Moore faced when constructing a squad likely to struggle from their season-opening assignment in Queensland on February 16.

Moore, appointed after Greg Cooper opted for a demotion at the Blues, put on a brave face after pulling together personnel from lesser lights Manawatu and Counties-Manukau to shore up a squad clearly spearheaded by former All Blacks Craig Newby and Jimmy Cowan.

The Highlanders have lost an All Blacks front row, their backline general Nick Evans to the Blues while James Ryan is still another six months away from a return as he gets over shoulder and knee injuries.

The absence of that experienced core has forced the Highlanders -- recently dedicated to fostering local talent -- to cast their net wide.

They needed just two players via the draft last season, next year their will be eight outside of Otago and Southland.

"We've still got some good young talent coming through, there's a couple of nice longer term prospects coming out of North Otago but you get no benefit exposing them before their time," a pragmatic Moore said.

Pivot Evans has been replaced by new Otago signing Daniel Bowden while Southland fullback James Wilson can also play closer to the action.

Bay of Plenty's Mike Delany is another option for first five-eighth after Otago's Callum Bruce was not placed in the Highlanders protected 24 -- and was snapped up by the Chiefs.

Chiefs coach Ian Foster was surprised the New Zealand Maori five-eighth was put in the draft, as was the player.

"It was a bit of a bolt out of the blue, but it's a good opportunity for me."

Moore admitted the decision to leave Bruce at the mercy of the draft was "a bit of tactical stuff ... there's always a risk with that."