Beauden Barrett will travel with the All Blacks to Argentina after being named on Friday to replace expectant father Lima Sopoaga for the Rugby Championship Test against Los Pumas.
Sopoaga was all but certain to wear the No. 10 jumper in Buenos Aires, with Barrett to take a well-deserved break after a hectic 2017 schedule, but now he is staying at home with partner Miriam as they await the imminent birth of their first child.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said that Barrett - who has started every 2017 Test to date - would likely earn additional time off in early November, when his side takes on the Barbarians in London.
Sopoaga is likely to join the side in South Africa next week.
"That one was always a flexible plan because we knew Lima and Miriam were to have the baby, and babies don't always come on time," Hansen said.
"We were always flexible about that, I'm not too bothered by it.
"Beauden, he gets to play another Test match. He's a professional rugby player and said that it is what it is, and he's happy to be here."
Barrett initially was one of six regular All Blacks to sit out the Test on October 1, with Hansen selecting a slimmed-down squad of 28.
Hansen, meanwhile, confirmed that props Joe Moody and Owen Franks had successfully undergone surgery on their season-ending injuries. He said also that Israel Dagg didn't need an operation on his niggling knee injury but would not play any more Test rugby in 2017.