The All Blacks will be without a rested captain Kieran Read for their Rugby Championship Test against Argentina next week in Buenos Aires.
Coach Steve Hansen said the 32-year-old needed to be carefully managed this year, having recovered from back surgery last December.
Classy No.8 Read, who also missed the three Tests against France in June, will return to action in the final Rugby Championship Test against South Africa in Pretoria on October 6.
New Zealand need to win one of those two Tests to secure the series.
Lock Sam Whitelock is the likely skipper against the Pumas while versatile forward Vaea Fifita has joined the squad for the Argentina leg.
Four other first-choice forwards weren’t on the plane leaving from Auckland on Friday. Liam Squire, Brodie Retallick, Joe Moody and Dane Coles are possibilities to play in the All Blacks’ Test against Australia in Yokohama on October 27.
Midfield back Sonny Bill Williams, who hasn’t played for three months, was on the flight and will be considered next week. It means there is no room for inside centre Ngani Laumape, who was called into the squad as injury cover for Williams.
ALL BLACKS SQUAD:
Backs: Ben Smith Waisake Naholo, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Jack Goodhue, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ryan Crotty, Sonny Bill Williams, Richie Mo’unga, Damian McKenzie, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi.
Forwards: Kieran Read (for South Africa Test only), Luke Whitelock, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Shannon Frizell, Jackson Hemopo, Vaea Fifita, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ofa Tuungafasi, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Angus Ta’avao, Tim Perry, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Nathan Harris, Liam Coltman.