FULLTIME: HIGHLANDERS 30 - 14 HURRICANES
80mins: Highlanders have one last shot a bonus point but they concede the penalty for Savea to take the quick tap. They've had enough though and kick it into touch. Game ove.r
80mins: Highlanders just a metre out but Whitelock is penalised for holding on and the Hurricanes will have the lineout near their own 10.
78mins: Thompson steps on and he's just a metre out from the try line. A loose pass sees West pick the ball up with nobody home but it's called back for the penalty. We'll have a scrum.
76mins: Whitelock frees up Dixon before he finds Li on the left wing to take it up over the 22m. Hurricanes counter at the ruck and get it back.
74mins: Smith bangs the kick high and Jordie bobbles it before taking it in. Ardie Savea tries to charge down the left wing but a good tackle by Smith forces him into touch.
72mins: Perenara spots a gaping hole but the Hurricanes obstructed and the Highlanders win the penalty before Smith takes the quick tap and they're up near the 22m. The Highlanders are awarded the penalty and Sopoaga slots the kick home to extend the lead.
69mins: HIGHLANDERS TRY - NAHOLO: Smiths fires a low pass to Squire and he's in space! He draws one in before finding Naholo and he races 40 odd metres to score in the corner. What gas!
68mins: Lomax smashes Lam before a great bit of defence from the Highlanders sends Shields backwards and then win the penalty. They're well up for this!
66mins: Naholo tries to steal the ball but he was off his feet and is penalised. Hurricanes will have the lineout just inside the 22m.
64mins: Highlanders put the shove on at the scrum and force the penalty. They've dominated set-piece play all game.
62mins: HIGHLANDERS TRY - LOMAX: Naholo and Thompson make a couple of strong runs to take the Highlanders just a couple of metres out. Smith finds Lomax with a short ball and the replacement prop crashes into the goal post padding for the try.
60mins: Thompson tries the kick over the top but the Canes do well to clean up but lose it forward in the process. Highlanders will packdown just 10 or so out.
58mins: Hurricanes lineout is a mess and it's a free-kick for the Highlanders for a scrum.
57mins: Hemopo wins the lineout and they try the drive. They're forced to play it and the Hurricanes win the penalty for a head-high shot at the breakdown.
56mins: Franklin gets up to win the ball from a high kick and gives it to Naholo to take it up near the 22m. Fatialofa takes out a player off the ball and the Highlanders want the lineout. Interesting.
54mins: Franklin gets up to steal the lineout and the Highlanders then win the penalty thanks to a high shot.
53mins: Ardie Savea's right over the top of Thompson at the breakdown to win the penalty. They'll have the lineout just 10 out.
51mins: HURRICANES TRY - TOOMAGA-ALLEN: Milner-Skudder gets the ball from the quick lineout, draws in three players before offloading off the deck to Savea and he gives it to Toomaga-Allen for the prop to score the try. Game on!
49mins: Hurricanes drive and drive well. They're up inside the 22m. Jordie tries the offload but it goes straight to Naholo.
47mins: Highlanders up near the 22m on the attack but they hold on at the breakdown and concede the penalty.
45mins: Hurricanes infringe at the breadown and the Highlanders win the penalty. They'll have the lineout near the 22m. Was Riccitelli the guilty party.
43mins: HIGHLANDERS TRY - SMITH: Ben Smith beats the tackle of Jordie Barrett, races 40 metres before drawing in the last defender to put Aaron Smith in for the try. Highlanders on fire!
41mins: Smith puts up the box kick and it bounces back the way of the Highlanders before Sopoaga sends it deep.
HALFTIME: HIGHLANDERS 8 - 7 HURRICANES: Highlanders have absored a ton of pressure to steal the lead right on halftime with a try to Li. It's been a tight game but both teams are looking to play the ball without much success.
40mins: HIGHLANDERS TRY - LI: Aaron Smith takes the tap, fires it to Hemopo on the wing and he somehow fires a back-handed offload to Li to dive over for the try. Incredible five minutes of rugby.
40mins: Sopoaga tries the kick through for Li and it almost comes up for him but the Hurricanes get it back. They then turn it over and look to attack. Sopoaga tries the dummy run and he goes close and the Highlanders win the penalty.
40mins: Highlanders do well to disrupt the lineout and get it back. Hurricanes make the error and it'll be a scrum. Thompson finds Milner-Skudder with the kick before the Hurricanes win the penalty.
38mins: Jordie Barrett of all people could be in for the try! They're checking upstairs. There was some dirty play in the lead up. Squire's forearm made contact with Savea's neck and he's yellow carded. It looked as if Savea (Julian) tried to punch Squire, but the camera can't quite catch it. So two penalities so we'll come back for a Hurricanes penalty.
37mins: Thompson does to evade the tackle of Jordie Barrett and the Canes player is down. Highlanders still looking to attack but the Canes counter at the ruck before turning it over.
35mins: Wa;den cuts out to find Li on the wing but he's forced to offload inside after 'Canes pressure. Shields tries the intercept but he knocks on. Fans want a card.
33mins: Evans tries to counter at the ruck, launches at Smith but he knocks on in the tackle for a Highlanders scrum.
31mins: Ben Smith tries the bomb and Squire comes up with it after Beaudie knocked on thanks to Perenara bumping into him. Squire tries to find Aaron Smith on his inside but he knocks on.
29mins: Sopoaga juggles the ball but does well to find Naholo with the pop over the top. However it's called back for a forward pass.
27mins: Ben's Smith landed heavily but he's got back up almost straight away. His head hit the ground hard. He's OK though and it'll be a Highlanders scrum.
26mins: Li does well to get up and win the ball from the kick-off and the Highlanders with the chance to hit back. Sopoaga's cross kick can only find a Canes player though.
24mins: HURRICANES TRY - BARRETT: Perenara runs across field, finds Beaudie at pace and he finds his brother, Jordie for a simple run in for the try. Too easy that.
22mins: Laumape gets a short ball and he's in space! He runs away from everyone before turning in and be tackled inside the 22m. And another penalty. Side-entry is the call. And again, another scrum call.
20mins: Savea picks up the loose ball and shows great strength to take them just five metres out. The ball comes loose however and it'll be a Highlanders scrum.
18mins: Perenara darts and finds Barrett with a great offload and the Highlanders are offside. And again, they turn down the easy three and we'll have a scrum.
17mins: Walden is held up in the tackle and the Hurricanes force the turnover from the knock on.
15mins: Highlanders do well to get and disrupt the ball and clear. Hurricanes attack left and Ben Lam gets it in space down the wing, runs 20 metres and somehow, SOMEHOW streches to find the try line. We're going upstairs and his hand just touched the sideline.
13mins: Highlanders are immediately penalised from the kick-off but the Hurricanes want the try. Barrett finds touch just five out.
11mins: Thompson puts the grubber kick through for Li to chase, but Milner-Skudder wins the race and runs it it into touch. Hurricanes are penalised and Sopoaga slots the easy kick.
9mins: Perenara tries playing the patience game at the scrum, but waits too long and knocks on from the ground. Aaron Smith loves it!
7mins: Laumape takes it up before Barrett finds Sopoaga with the kick. There's space for Laumape down the left wing but his grubber only finds Naholo.
5mins: Sopoaga tries to find Thompson with an inside ball but it's called forward so we'll have a scrum.
3mins: Savea tackled Li high and we have the first year of penalty. Li takes it up from the lineout win and they're up to the 22m.
1mins: Perenara clears from the base and the Highlanders will be the first to attack from halfway.
7:30pm: Players about to make their way out. Shields the first out as it's his 100th game for the 'Canes.
7:25pm: The Highlanders welcome back their star players. Really excited to see both team's backlines go at it.
7:20pm: The Hurricanes have already beaten the Highlanders this season, but they're coming off just their second loss of the season. Both teams with plenty to play for.
Kia ora and welcome to Forsyth Barr Stadium as the Highlanders host the Hurricanes in week 16 of Super Rugby.
We bring you live streaming written commentary, (BE SURE TO REFRESH YOUR BROWSER), and all the action. Video will be available as soon as the final whistle goes.
Commentary will start at 7:20pm (NZT)
Lineups
Highlanders
15 Ben Smith (co-c), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Dillon Hunt, 6 Liam Squire, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 3 Kalolo Tuiloma, 2 Ash Dixon (co-c), 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Replacements: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Shannon Frizell, 20 Elliot Dixon, 21 Josh Renton, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 Richard Buckman.
Hurricanes
15 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Jodie Barrett, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields (c), 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Michael Fatialofa, 3 Jeff To’omaga-Allen, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Toby Smith.
Replacements: 16 James O’Reilly, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Ben May, 19 Vaea Fifita/Murray Douglas, 20 Blade Thomson, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Wes Goosen.
Match officials
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Referees: Angus Mabey, Mike Lash
TMO: Aaron Paterson
Previous results
Sat, 24 Mar 2018 Highlanders v Hurricanes 12-29 Wellington
Sat, 18 Mar 2017 Highlanders v Hurricanes 15-41 Wellington
Fri, 27 May 2016 Highlanders v Hurricanes 20-27 Wellington
Sat, 05 Mar 2016 Highlanders v Hurricanes 17-16 Dunedin
Sat, 04 Jul 2015 Final Highlanders v Hurricanes 21-14 Wellington
Head-to-head
Highlanders $2.50 Hurricanes $1.52
Pre-match banter: Brad Shields to raise 100 appearances for Hurricanes
Hurricanes captain Brad Shields will reach a significant milestone when he takes he takes the field against the Highlanders on Friday night.
The England-bound flanker will become the 14th player in franchise history to bring up 100 appearances, following in the footsteps of the likes of Tana Umaga, Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith.
Head coach Chris Boyd paid tribute to the 27-year-old flanker, stressing the need for a win over the Southerners to suitably mark the occasion.
"There is no other player who is more respected in this squad and our club than Brad, and we are determined to put together a performance that recognises that on Friday," Boyd said.
"Brad is certainly a guy who leads and sets standards by example and that is reflected in everything he does, not only on the field but at training and interacting with our fans and members."
There's just one change to the side which lost to the Crusaders last weekend, with No.8 Gareth Evans replacing Blade Thomson after recovering from an ankle issue.
All Black Vaea Fifita has been pencilled in for a place on the bench, but his availability will be subject to further fitness testing after he took a shoulder knock against the Reds.
That bench will also welcome back South African-born flyer Wes Goosen, who returns after fracturing his jaw way back in round nine.
Newshub.
