Bay of Plenty's front row stocks have been given a ringing endorsement with Nathan Harris and Mike Kainga donning varying black jersey's in this weekend's end of year tour matches.

Hooker Harris and prop Kainga will make their respective starting debuts for the All Blacks and Maori All Blacks against the Unites States of America and Japan.

All Blacks hooker Nathan Harris. Photo: Supplied.

Harris is joined by flanker Sam Cane in the starting line-up while lock Brodie Retallick starts on the bench in what is a drastically changed All Blacks side for the historic test match.

Kainga is the sole Bay player in the Maori All Black side to take on Japan in Kobe – one of 10 new caps.

The selection caps off a strong week for the prop having been included in the Hurricanes Super Rugby squad for 2015.

For Harris, coach Steve Hansen's decision to name a team combining young talent and experienced heads has played in his favour after previously playing one match from the bench against Argentina earlier this year.

He is one of 12 changes to the side that pipped the Wallabies 29-28 in Brisbane on October 18, with Sonny Bill William and Aaron Cruden also returning to the test arena.

Just stand-in captain Kieran Reid, wing Cory Jane and fullback Israel Dagg remain from the Bledisloe Cup match as the selectors work towards next week's clash with England.

The changes also give Cane some valuable international game time with Richie McCaw sitting back in the stands.

Sunday morning's match (9am NZ time) is a 61,500 capacity sell-out, with the All Blacks playing in front of a record attendance for a rugby match in the USA.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen says this is going to be an exciting occasion for the team, but it is also another chance for those selected to pull on the jersey and play well.

He says: 'On this MyRepublic Northern Tour, we want to give all players in the squad the opportunity to grow their game. We also want to develop our game as a team - and it starts on Saturday.

'While we are giving a number of players another opportunity this weekend, our expectation is that they will play to the highest level and we get a quality performance.”

In Japan, tight-head prop Kainga is joined by Otago lock Tom Franklin, Auckland flanker Sean Polwart, Tasman wing James Lowe and Manawatu centre Jason Emery as debutants in the starting line-up.

Canterbury hooker Codie Taylor, Hawke's Bay prop Brendon Edmonds, Northland flanker Dan Pryor, Taranaki first five-eighth Marty McKenzie and Manawatu fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder could also make their respective debuts from the bench.

Maori All Blacks coach Colin Cooper is pleased with how quickly the team has gelled given the short assembly time, with most of the 27 strong squad only coming together last weekend.

He says: 'We know we are up for a tough challenge with Japan as the 11th ranked team in the world, so it's important we get the basics right and ensure we gel together as a team very quickly.

'I congratulate the 10 players who will wear the Maori All Blacks jersey for the first time. This is a proud moment for them and I know they and the rest of the team will be working hard to honour our legacy.”