Bay of Plenty hooker Nathan Harris' much anticipated All Blacks debut is being fast-tracked thanks to the impending birth of a teammate's first child.

Harris, 22, has been included on the bench for the All Blacks match against Argentina at Estadio Ciudad de La Plata on Sunday morning (NZ time) with coaching staff hinting the Te Puke rake will get game time.

Chiefs hooker Nathan Harris. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

Harris, earmarked to make his debut the following week against South Africa at Ellis Park, finds himself on the bench with first choice hooker Dane Coles returning to New Zealand to be with his partner for the birth of their baby a week early.

Harris will deputise 117 test veteran Keven Mealamu, the only other hooker the squad, and could find himself thrown into the fray for a reasonable stint given the sizeable task against the Springboks the following week.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen is looking forward to seeing Harris make his test debut off the bench.

'Nathan has been developing very well. It's well known that we don't have a lot of depth in this position, but we feel that Nathan is ready and capable of doing a very good job.”

For Harris it is the culmination of an impressive rise in the national ranks having debuted for the Chiefs this season, playing 11 matches, and making the fringe of the All Blacks squad.

Before this he was part of the New Zealand U20 side in the 2012 Junior World Cup, debuting for the Bay of Plenty Steamers the same year.

Other changes to the forwards see the return from injury of lock Samuel Whitelock and blindside flanker Jerome Kaino.

In the backs, Malakai Fekitoa gets his third start in the All Blacks coming in for the injured Ma'a Nonu, and Beauden Barrett gets his second start in the number 10 jersey, after starting the Test against Argentina in Napier three weeks ago.

Barrett's selection was also made easier with Aaron Cruden missing the flight to Argentina after a boozy night out.

'After a good week of preparation, we are really looking forward to, and excited by, the challenge that playing Argentina in Argentina brings,” says Hansen.

'There is an expectation that we will have a quality performance full of excitement, energy, physicality and accuracy.

'To beat the Argentineans will require that of us, as they have been playing very well and have improved a lot since last year. With this being only their second home game in the Championship, there will be huge expectation on them to win.”

If the All Blacks manage to clinch a four try bonus point victory they will wrap up the Rugby Championship for the third straight year.

All Blacks side to face Argentina at Sunday 11am (NZ time):

1. Wyatt Crockett (31)

2. Keven Mealamu (117)

3. Owen Franks (61)

4. Brodie Retallick (31)

5. Samuel Whitelock (57)

6. Jerome Kaino (52)

7. Richie McCaw (c) (131)

8. Kieran Read (66)

9. Aaron Smith (33)

10. Beauden Barrett

11. Julian Savea (26)

12. Malakai Fekitoa (4)

13. Conrad Smith (80)

14. Ben Smith (33)

15. Israel Dagg (41)

Reserves:

16. Nathan Harris *

17. Joe Moody (3)

18. Ben Franks (35)

19. Jeremy Thrush (7)

20. Sam Cane (18)

21. TJ Perenara (7)

22. Colin Slade (12)

23. Cory Jane (51)