All Blacks hooker Dane Coles has been rested from the Hurricanes line-up to take on the Highlanders in Wellington on Saturday.
After three consecutive starts since the Super Rugby Aotearoa emerged from the coronavirus shutdown, Coles, 33, has been replaced in the No.2 jersey by Asafo Aumua, with Ricky Riccatelli coming off the bench.
With a surplus of depth at the hooker position, coach Jason Holland can probably afford to spell his co-captain and elder statesman, who is also nursing a calf complaint.
"We always realised this would be a tough four-week block for us and... with our three hookers, we don't lose too much with any of them," says Holland. "If Colesy is a little bit niggly, it made sense not to have him out there."
With Gareth Evans (ankle) and Reed Prinsep (hamstring) both rehabbing, Devan Flanders is promoted to the No.6 jersey and former Blues loose forward Murphy Taramai will debut as Hurricanes player 274 off the bench.
From the team that beat the Chiefs last week, Fletcher Smith replaces Jackson Garden-Bachop at first-five, while Vince Aso reclaims the centre spot from Peter Umaga-Jensen. Ben May replaces Fraser Armstrong at prop.
Meanwhile, Jack Whetton - son of former All Blacks captain Gary Whetton - claims a start at lock for the Highlanders, after Josh Dickson broke his leg against the Crusaders last week.
With Ngatungane Punivai injury, NZ Sevens rep Scott Gregory will start on the right wing, while prop Siate Tokolahi will chalk up his 50th game for the southerners.
Hurricanes: 1-Ben May, 2-Asafo Aumua, 3-Tyrel Lomax, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Scott Scrafton, 6-Devan Flanders, 7-Du'Plessis Kirifi, 8-Ardie Savea, 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Fletcher Smith, 11-Ben Lam, 12-Ngani Laumape, 13-Vince Aso, 14-Kobus Van Wyk, 15-Jordie Barrett
Reserves: 16-Ricky Riccatelli, 17-Pouri Rekate-Stones, 18-Alex Fidow, 19-Vaea Fifita, 20-Murphy Taramai, 21-Jamie Booth, 22-Billy Proctor, 23-Wes Goosen
Highlanders: 1-Ayden Johnstone, 2-Ash Dixon, 3-Siate Tokolahi, 4-Pari Pari Parkinson, 5-Jack Whetton, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-Dillon Hunt, 8-Marino Mikaele Tu’u, 9-Aaron Smith, 10-Mitch Hunt, 11-Jona Nareki, 12-Patelesio Tomkinson, 13-Rob Thompson, 14-Scott Gregory, 15-Michael Collins
Reserves: 16-Liam Coltman, 17-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18-Jeff Thwaites, 19-Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20-Jesse Parete, 21-Kayne Hammington, 22-Bryn Gatland, 23-Teariki Ben-Nicholas
Join us at 3:30pm Sunday for live updates of the Hurricanes v Highlanders Super Rugby Aotearoa clash
