Star halfback Cam Roigard won't be involved in the All Blacks game against the Sharks in Durban on Wednesday morning.

The No.9 was named on the bench for the second game of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour.

However, he has since been withdrawn with concerns about a tight calf.

A team source said the move was precautionary to allow some time for it to settle down.

Kyle Preston was named to start against the Sharks in Durban Wednesday morning (5am NZ time), while Cortez Ratima, who started the opening game against the Stormers has been brought onto the bench.

Roigard started all three of the All Blacks Nations Championship tests last month but was left out of the side that won last Saturday's clash with the Stormers in Cape Town, their opening match of the tour of South Africa.

Roigard is the All Blacks first choice halfback and they will want to do everything they can to ensure he's fully fit for the first test against the Springboks on 23 August.

The All Blacks went through their captains run today in Durban ahead of the match against the Sharks and loose forward Luke Jacobson, who will skipper the side, said they were seeking an improved performance from what they produced against the Stormers.

"It's an awesome challenge, an awesome opportunity for us to really dial in on maybe some things that didn't go as well for us in the last game."

Jacobson said the All Blacks were preparing to take on another physical South African side.

"We know how the South African teams play, they know their game, they've got their mauls, their scrums. There's going to be up front battles, so we're going to have to be ready to play that."

The All Blacks match against the Sharks kicks off at 5am NZT Wednesday morning.