All Blacks hooker Dane Coles has been named in the Hurricanes squad to take on the Sharks in Wellington on Saturday night.
The first home game of the season for the New Zealand club comes after a 26-23 win against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires.
Coles, who returns from injury, will start the game on the bench, but he's excited at the potential of getting in some game time.
"It’s been a while, but I’m feeling in good nick," Coles said. "I have been working hard to get back out there and I’m looking forward to having a run.
"We love getting out there in front of our fans at Sky Stadium. Home games are pretty special."
TJ Perenara will captain the side, which remains largely unchanged from last weekend.
Vince Aso will replace Billy Proctor at outside centre, while lock Scott Scrafton makes a return to the forward pack.
In the loose, Reed Prinsep will start at No.8, with Gareth Evans moving to openside, while Vaea Fifita makes his first start of the season.
Jackson Garden-Bachop gets his second start at first-five, with Fletcher Smith back on the bench.
Coach Jason Holland is happy with the competitive environment in the team.
"We have an excellent squad," Holland said. "Whoever gets their opportunity this week needs to take it, as there are a lot of boys lining up to get a crack."
Last year, the Hurricanes walked away with a 30-17 win and Holland believes another tough encounter is in store.
"The Sharks are a physical side with a big kicking game, not too dissimilar from the style the Springboks adopted to win the World Cup.
"They’ve got a back three who will take opportunities we give them.”
Hurricanes: 1-Fraser Armstrong, 2-Asafo Aumua, 3-Tyrel Lpmax, 4-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 5-Scoot Scrafton, 6-Vaea Fifita, 7-Gareth Evans, 8-Reed Prinsep, 9-TJ Perenara (c), 10-Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11-Ben Lam, 12-Ngani Laumape, 13-Vince Aso, 14-Wes Goosen, 15-Jordie Barrett
Reserves: 16-Dane Coles, 17-Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18-Alex Fidow, 19-Liam Mitchell, 20-Du 'Plessis Kirifi, 21-Jamie Booth, 22-Fletcher Smith, 23-Billy Proctor
Join us for live updates of the Hurricanes v Sharks from 7pm Saturday.
