Forgotten All Black scrumhalf Piri Weepu made a dramatic return from the international wilderness as he joined Graham Henry's Tri-Nations squad on Tuesday.

Weepu spent over a year out of the New Zealand team, having played his last Test against South Africa in a 33-6 win at Jade Stadium in Christchurch in July 2007.

The Hurricanes and Wellington scrumhalf was then overlooked for New Zealand's ill-fated World Cup campaign, as Graham Henry chose Jimmy Cowan, Brendan Leonard and Andy Ellis ahead of Weepu for the trip to France.

That high profile snub has now come full circle, after injuries to both Ellis and Cowan in the 19-34 loss to Australia forced Henry to recall Weepu to the beleaguered All Black side.

Weepu has been bracketed at number nine for Saturday's rematch against the Wallabies, as Henry waits to see whether his wounded scrumhalves will recover in time.

Henry's injury woes are not only limited to the No.9 slot. Hooker Andrew Hore is also doubtful after sustaining bruising on his hip on Saturday. Hore is bracketed with veteran Keven Mealamu, while Henry has called up Hurricanes hooker Hikawera Elliot to the wider squad as cover.

Weepu looked fit and fired up on Tuesday at the team announcement, and said that he was keen to make the most of the unexpected opportunity.

"I'm capable enough to be here and if I put my mind to it properly, that I should be here and that I should be here right from the start," he told rugbyheaven.co.nz.

Weepu was criticised early in the year for carrying excess weight during the Hurricanes' Super 14 campaign, but the player said that it was a problem he has been working on very hard.

"Obviously with a few things going wrong with weight and being unfit, I've had to retrack and work a lot harder.

"I've been doing that during the Maori campaign and during the pre-season with NPC [Air New Zealand Cup]."

The player revealed how thrilled he was with his inclusion to the All Blacks squad, and hinted that he was extremely disappointed at missing out on selection over the past twelve months or so.

"After missing out last year and not being named at the beginning of this campaign, it's pretty big to be back in this squad," he said.

"If I do get the opportunity to play on Saturday I'll be pushing to show I deserve to be in this team."

Weepu stated that this stage of his career was a critical one, and that the outcome of his endeavours with the All Blacks over the next few months, as well as his form in New Zealand's domestic Air New Zealand Cup, could go a long way in helping him decide on his future.

"I've still got the NPC [Air New Zealand Cup] to finish, and being part of that will let me know whether I want to stay here or whether I want to go offshore.

"But being back in this environment is a pretty good thing for me and I guess it could help make a decision on whether I want to stay or not," said Weepu.

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