On Sunday morning All Black coach Graham Henry will confirm his 35-strong touring squad for the six-match season-ending tour, an assignment which begins with the November 1 clash against the Wallabies in Hong Kong.

The All Black selectors gave a hint as to their likely selections with the naming of their 25-strong training squad which will spend three days together in Auckland this week.

That includes the seeming one-on-one battle between Scott Waldrom and Tanerau Latimer as the specialist openside flanker's back-up for Richie McCaw.

And as Henry prepares to name his squad, I've come up with the six players who I would most like to see introduced to the All Black fold on the season-ending tour.

Their selections are based both on form - past and present - and what they can offer to the All Blacks long-term.

Hosea Gear: Has been the dominant strike-force of the Air New Zealand Cup, in the process setting a new Wellington season try-scoring record.

His critics point to the fact that Gear, the younger brother of ex-All Black Rico, is yet to show the same finishing in the Super Rugby arena.

That is true. So too is the fact that some of Gear's markers in the Air New Zealand Cup have been of modest quality.

But the time is right to give him a shot, with Rudi Wulf the likely selection victim.

Jamie Mackintosh: The man dubbed, 'Whopper' by his Southland Stags team-mates, has the potential, power and leadership to be a long-term force in the international arena.

Was a standout in the Highlanders' tight-five before his Super 14 was cut short by injury.

However, again showed his brute force and leadership during Southland's run into the Air New Zealand Cup semifinals.

The All Blacks selectors will choose five props for the tour - Mackintosh has to be one of them.

Alby Mathewson: The impressive Wellingtonian would be my third-string halfback.

At present it is a spot held by Canterbury's Andy Ellis.

But he is now under an injury cloud with a knee strain. However, even if he was fully fit it is debatable whether his laboured pass should be taken to Hong Kong and the UK.

Mathewson's outstanding form has seen All Black back-up halfback Piri Weepu move out to first-five for the Lions in recent weeks. It is form which should be warranted with an All Black call-up.

The non-selection of Auckland's Taniela Moa in the training squad could be a strong pointer towards Mathewson's rise up the rankings.

Scott Waldrom: The experience factor is set to give the Taranaki grafter the nod over Latimer in the race to be McCaw's back-up.

The impressive loosie has had a stunning season for Taranaki in the Air New Zealand Cup.

And with the stated desire now to have a specialist No 7 in the All Black environment, Waldrom's deeds both past and present should now be rewarded with a call-up.

Latimer has time on his side, and having recently recommitted himself to the NZRU, his time will come.

Liam Messam: If the Waikato loosie is not selected for this tour then it has to be very doubtful whether the current selectors will ever select him.

The loosie, who can cover all three positions, has consistently stood up for Waikato, the Chiefs and New Zealand Maori.

His leadership and maturity are also aspects which deserve further honours.

I would be picking Messam in the place of his Waikato and Chiefs team-mate Sione Lauaki.

However, the All Black coaching staff's continued selection and un-blinding faith in the hit and miss Lauaki, and more often it is a case of 'miss', looks set to continue.

Hikawera Elliott: The selection of the 25-strong training squad would make it appear that the Hawke's Bay rake will not be making the trip.

Instead it appears Canterbury's Corey Flynn is the favourite to secure the third hooking spot.

In many regards Flynn has been tried and tested, with varying results.

Now is the time to blood a newcomer into the environment.

Elliott is outstanding around the field and a case could also be mounted that Elliott is also a sounder option at line-out time.

Who would be your season-ending bolters?

And who do you think will miss out when it comes to selection time?