Ryan Crotty's All Blacks career is set to resume just two weeks after a wave of public sentiment that he consider retirement because of ongoing head knocks.
The world class midfield back was pronounced available for Saturday's Test against Argentina in Nelson, along with flanker Sam Cane, who has also passed concussion protocols.
Assistant coach Ian Foster said Crotty would be considered just like any other squad member for the Rugby Championship fixture.
That is despite the 29-year-old suffering a sixth concussion inside 18 months when he was forced from the field early in the Bledisloe Cup opening win in Sydney.
Crotty's welfare came under the spotlight when his sister Shea tweeted: "I want to see my brother grow old and able, not battling the brain forever."
It sparked a widespread debate, with concussion and its longer-term effects still a cloudy area in sport.
Foster said Crotty and Cane are regarded as fully able to return to the field under the best current medical advice.
"At this stage they're where they need to be in terms of all the protocols that we have to follow through," he said.
The All Blacks are expected to make multiple changes to the team who swept Australia in Auckland to secure the Bledisloe Cup for a 16th straight year.
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