New Zealand coach Graham Henry's experimenting ends today when his side meet a confident Argentina in Buenos Aires before the Tri-Nations and the final countdown to the 2007 World Cup.

Henry planned to use two Tests against Ireland and the match against the Pumas at Velez Sarsfield to try out players before being forced to whittle the squad down to 30 for the annual competition against Australia and South Africa.

That squad will undoubtedly form the core of the team for the World Cup in France next year after Henry has spent the past two seasons trying to develop a talent pool capable of winning the tournament.

"It's going to be a good test for the untried players, the ones that haven't played a lot of Test football, to see how they measure up," said Henry.

Henry is trying his third centre pairing of the season in utility back Isaia Toeava, whose only Test appearance was at fullback, and bustling number 12 Sam Tuitupou, who has been in the international wilderness since 2004.

Winger Scott Hamilton will make his debut and flanker Jerry Collins will lead the side for the first time.

Lock Ali Williams and prop Tony Woodcock also return from injury, with Henry expecting Woodcock to come under pressure from a Pumas scrum that lay an impressive platform to set up two victories over Wales this month.

NEW ZEALAND: L MacDonald; R Gear, I Toeava, S Tuitupou, S Hamilton; D Carter, P Weepu; T Woodcock, A Oliver, G Somerville, J Eaton, A Williams, J Collins (capt), C Mascoe, M Tuiali'i.

ARGENTINA: J Hernandez; J Nunez Piossek, G Tiesi, F Contemponi, F Martin Aramburu; F Todeschini, A Pichot (captain); R Rochero, M Ledesma, O Hasan, I Fernandez Lobbe, R Alvarez, M Durand, J Fernandez Lobbe, G Longo.

Referee: N Whitehouse (Wales)