New Zealand full-back Mils Muliaina has been cleared to start against England in the first Test at Eden Park tomorrow after passing a fitness test.

Muliaina missed training yesterday with a strained hamstring, the same injury which affected him during the recent Super 14 season.

Highlanders full-back Paul Williams - son of the former All Blacks Bryan Williams - was called up as temporary cover.

But the All Blacks confirmed this morning that Muliania "came through fitness testing well" and the team to face England remains unchanged.

Charlie Hodgson starts his first Test for England in 19 months tomorrow determined to grasp a "massive opportunity" he feared may never come around again.

There were dark times when Hodgson felt he might be stranded on 29 caps after wrecking his knee ligaments for a second time against South Africa in November 2006.

Hodgson missed the World Cup and then had to watch as Danny Cipriani ousted Jonny Wilkinson from the England number 10 jersey for the victory over Ireland in March.

Hodgson was involved in the Six Nations training squad but his only action was the last 10 minutes in England's miserable defeat to Scotland.

Now, however, with both Cipriani and Wilkinson injured, Hodgson is back in the director's chair for tomorrow's clash with New Zealand at Eden Park.

"I did think, particularly when I was injured, whether I would get another opportunity," Hodgson said. "But I never gave up hope and believed that one day it would happen again.

"The things have worked out with Jonny having an operation and Cips picking up that injury, it is cruel luck for those guys, but it gives me a massive opportunity to be back in an England shirt.

"I am now very thankful. I wouldn't have been happy to let it end with 29 caps."