LIVE on Sky Sport – Sunday 23 November: All Blacks vs Wales, 4:10AM (NZST). Highlights available on NZR+ and All Blacks YouTube.
It is his first chance on tour, along with several others, and he wants to make the most of it.
He said, "I'm grateful to get the opportunity, but I know there's a tough game ahead with Wales. I want to do my best, play my part and give a performance I can be proud of."
Love said he wants to add some 'vitality, good energy and some x-factor' while also being a calm head.
"I've been in this environment for two years now, so I feel I've got a good understanding of how we want to play the game."
Also having a start is prop Pasilio Tosi, who admitted some nervousness ahead of the game.
"But at the same time, we've got good fellows in the team and have a good competitive edge.
"Like the other boys on the team that haven't been getting selected, we always try to put our best foot forward and try to prepare the boys the best we can. It's my first start, so I'm still trying to learn because I'm not used to it. But it's good to have the other props to boost my confidence."
Coach Scott Robertson said the All Blacks are playing for the jersey after their disappointment in losing to England, which prevented them from completing a Grand Slam.
The game against a Wales side that has struggled for success over the past two years will give players who haven't featured earlier in the tour a chance.
"It's about giving guys opportunities and setting them up to perform. Those who have been given the opportunity have trained hard and been focused. It's great to play that whole squad and [for] everyone to have a crack at it.
"There's a good sprinkle of experience and some great young players coming through. It'll be a passionate display."
In the midfield, Anton Lienert-Brown, who came off the bench against England, and Rieko Ioane, who hasn't played on tour, are paired.
"Rieko is experienced and has worked tirelessly on this tour to get an opportunity, and now it's his."
Robertson said the selectors see Love as both a fullback and a first five-eighths.
"He trains hard with us in both positions. It's challenging when you've got a world-class fullback like Will Jordan and the balance of it when you're going for a Grand Slam, and you've always got in the back of your mind that you're going to give him [Love] a crack at the end, and you've got someone like D Mac [Damian McKenzie] who can rip a game apart.
"So, when you give opportunities that's a challenge. That's a skill set that I have to trust myself on for the team. And this is his weekend."
Robertson said Love's qualities at fullback are that he's good in the air, has a good kicking game, and has good timing onto the ball, while he can come off players and punch gaps to set the team off.
"He sets the outsides up well so he's got a bit of everything back there. His anticipation for the game is good, especially in the backfield coverage."
Love said he appreciated that his chances had been limited because of the quality of players ahead of him.
"You're in behind two or three future Hall of Famers in Beauden [Barrett], D Mac [McKenzie] and Will [Jordan], you have to be patient.
"There've been times where, I wouldn't say impatience is the word, but you get kind of frustrated just training the whole time. I'm still young, so the only way I see it as a failure is if I don't learn."
Fabian Holland returns at lock, and Robertson said his nomination for World Rugby's breakthrough player of the year was an example of how much he has grown in his first season.
"We're pleased. He's an excessive character; he's last off the field, and he will always push it. You have to pull him back a bit, which is the characteristic of all great players, but he's starting to master his trade and what's important to him. You can see that consistency on the field; we missed him last week.
"We missed his physicality. Sometimes you don't realised until someone's gone how much you missed him. But he's the ultimate pro and it's great to have him back."
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TEAMS:
All Blacks (Test caps in brackets)
1. Tamaiti Williams (26) 2. Samisoni Taukei’aho (42) 3. Pasilio Tosi (15) 4. Scott Barrett (88) (Captain) 5. Fabian Holland (11) 6. Simon Parker (7) 7. Du’Plessis Kirifi (7) 8. Wallace Sititi (18) 9. Cortez Ratima (20) 10. Damian McKenzie (73) 11. Caleb Clarke (32) 12. Anton Lienert-Brown (87) 13. Rieko Ioane (87) 14. Will Jordan (53) 15. Ruben Love (4)
IMPACT: 16. George Bell (3) 17. Fletcher Newell (34) 18. George Bower (24) 19. Josh Lord (11) 20. Christian Lio-Willie (3) 21. Finlay Christie (27) 22. Leicester Fainga’anuku (11) 23. Sevu Reece (36)
Wales:
15-Blair Murray, 14-Louis Rees-Zammit, 13-Max Llewellyn, 12-Joe Hawkins, 11-Tom Rogers, 10-Dan Edwards, 9-Tomos Williams, 8-Aaron Wainwright, 7-Harri Deaves, 6-Alex Mann, 5-Adam Beard, 4-Dafydd Jenkins, 3-Keiron Assiratti, 2-Dewi Lake (captain), 1-Rhys Carre
IMPACT: 16-Brodie Coghlan, 17-Gareth Thomas, 18-Archie Griffin, 19-Freddie Thomas, 20-Taine Plumtree, 21-Kieran Hardy, 22-Jarrod Evans, 23-Nick Tompkins.
