The defending champion All Blacks will again be among the favourites to win next week's World Rugby Classic, but they're not taking the task lightly.

Justin Marshall, his country's most capped scrumhalf, and the third most capped player in All Blacks history will be part of a team that looks like they mean business, on paper at least.

Also named in the Classic All Blacks are the likes of Ali Williams, Filo Tia Tia and Scott Robertson in a squad that includes wing Jackie Tarrant, who scored in the one-sided win over the Classic Lions last year.

Marshall played 81 times for the All Blacks, scoring 140 points in the process. He made his debut at the tender age of 22 and was made captain for the 1997 tour of the British Isles.

Domestically he was the mainstay of the Canterbury Crusaders team which dominated Super Rugby, making more than 100 appearances before he left New Zealand in 2005 and moved to Europe.

His travels took him to Leeds Tykes in their first year in the Guiness Premiership, to Welsh region Ospreys, French club Montpelier and finally Saracens, where he played in 24 Heineken Cup matches.

He is currently a commentator with Sky Sports.

Classic president John Kane is hoping the Kiwi will lend his talents to the Sky Sports programme that is aired annually back in the UK over Christmas. That's if he gets here.

An over-booked BA flight means that Marshall is due to travel economy class, and Kane hopes that won't put him off coming for the tournament.

"At the moment we've got Justin Marshall coming out on the Sunday, he's in the back of the plane because we can't get him in the front yet, and we're working very hard on that and hoping that he does come and doesn't say 'I'm not coming in the back of the plane'," said Kane.

"I'm wondering when the last time Justin Marshall travelled coach was, we're hoping he won't have to this time but we've got good connections at BA and hoping we'll get him moved.

"It's important for us because we want him to do some TV work for us as well."

All Blacks squad: Paul Thomson (Prop, All Black), Hayden Scown (Prop, Japan), Adam Parker (Lock, Japan/Maoris 1998), Ali Williams (Lock, All Black), Troy Flavell (Lock, All Black), Scott McLeod (Lock), Filo Tia Tia (Flanker, All Black), Kelvin Middleton (Flanker, NZ -A), Scott Robertson (Flanker, All Black), Dustin Watts (Flanker, NZ U-21s), Deon Muir (No 8, Maoris), Justin Marshall (Scrumhalf, All Black), Rhys Duggan (Scrumhalf, All Black/Maoris), Jason Bird (Scrumhalf, NZ Universities), Glen Jackson (Outhalf, Maoris), Charles Hore (Outhalf, Super 10), Alan Bunting (Centre, NZ 7s), Keith Lowen (Wing, All Black), Jackie Tarrant (Wing, Japan), Alex Telea (Wing, NZ 7s), Damien Karauna (Wing, NZ 7s), Karl Tenana (Wing, NZ 7s). Manager: Andy Haden (All Black).