Injury has forced first five-eighth Tasesa Lavea to withdraw from the New Zealand Maori rugby squad.
The Auckland pivot suffered a hamstring injury while playing club rugby on the weekend.
A New Zealand Rugby Union statement confirmed Lavea was replaced by Hawke's Bay's Matthew Berquist.
New Zealand Maori play New South Wales this Friday in Sydney before the Churchill Cup tournament in Canada and the United States.
New Zealand Maori coach Donny Stevenson said it was disappointing for Lavea.
"Tasesa was excited about being part of the team for the first time and he is understandably disappointed that he had to withdraw.
"But this is an opportunity for Matt to step up to this level and I have full confidence that he has the ability to do that."