Kieran Foran will extend his career into the Pacific Championships after the retiring veteran was named in New Zealand's 21-man Test squad to face Samoa and Tonga.
Kiwis coach Stacey Jones was able to name New Zealand's strongest squad in years on Tuesday, with only Jahrome Hughes and Kodi Nikorima unavailable through injury.
It means New Zealand will have Dylan Brown and Foran available in the halves, with James Fisher-Harris captaining the group.
Brisbane premiership-winning forward Xavier Willison is the only potential debutant, with all other 20 players having previously represented the Kiwis before.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Moses Leota, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Briton Nikora, Brown and Foran are all back in the group, after missing last year's Pacific Championships through injury.
But it is the selection of Foran that is most interesting.
The 35-year-old had continued training after his NRL season ended with Gold Coast last month, in the hope he could finish his career in a black-and-white New Zealand jersey.
The half had spoken to Jones through the finals, who reiterated that he was some chance to add to his 31 Tests.
Foran's inclusion means he will have the longest career span of any Kiwi player in history, with his international debut coming way back in his rookie NRL season of 2009.
The veteran's New Zealand farewell comes after Shaun Johnson closed out his career in similar circumstances in last year's Pacific Championships.
New Zealand were disappointing in that tournament, losing to both Australia and Tonga to miss out on the Cup final.
The Kiwis will host the tournament opener against Samoa in Auckland on October 19, before playing Tonga at Eden Park on November 2.
They will, however, give up home-ground advantage for the final in Sydney on November 9.
NEW ZEALAND SQUAD FOR PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Dylan Brown, Erin Clark, Phoenix Crossland, James Fisher-Harris (capt), Kieran Foran, Jamayne Isaako, Keano Kini, Sebastian Kris, Moses Leota, Jeremy Marshall-King, Casey McLean, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Briton Nikora, Isaiah Papali'i, Scott Sorensen, Joseph Tapine, Matthew Timoko, Naufahu Whyte, Xavier Willison.
