The Hurricanes will welcome back their All Blacks talisman Beauden Barrett for Friday's Super Rugby clash with the Brumbies in Palmerston North.
Barrett has missed the first two weeks of action due to NZ Rugby's resting policies but will make his return to the field, as the Wellington-based franchise looks to bounce back from their 38-22 drubbing at the hands of the Crusaders last weekend.
Fellow All Blacks TJ Perenara and Ngani Laumape – who both came off the bench in the previous round – will reclaim their starting spots at halfback and second-five respectively.
Loose forward Vaea Fifita will also make his first Super Rugby appearance of the season with a start in the number six jersey.
Ardie Savea resumes operations from the back of the scrum after missing the Crusaders game, moving across from his regular spot at openside flanker.
The other change in the pack is at tighthead prop where Ben May starts and Jeff To'omaga-Allen shifts to the bench.
Coach John Plumtree said he didn't think twice regarding Barrett's recall.
"It's a big year for him," he said. "I think he's pleased to be back home from all his travels and he's settled back in.
"We got some good work into last week and now he's ready to run the ship."
The Brumbies are fresh off a 54-17 demolition of the Chiefs in Canberra, which Plumtree believes was built on a foundation of forwards dominance.
"I thought they were outstanding...they were impressive. Their forwards provided momentum and they've got some really good backs, and lool well organised.
"They'll want that same sort of memntum against us, and we can't afford to give them that."
Hurricanes: 1-Chris Eves, 2-Dane Coles (c), 3-Ben May, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Liam Mitchell, 6-Vaea Fifita, 7-Du'Plessis Kirifi, 8-Ardie Savea, 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Ben Lam, 12-Ngani Laumape, 13-Matt Proctor, 14-Vince Aso, 15-Chase Tiatia
Reserves: 16 - Ricky Riccitelli, 17-Xavier Numia, 18-Jeff To'omaga-Allen, 19-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20-Reed Prinsep, 21-Richard Judd, 22-Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23-Wes Goosen
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