Hurricanes co-captain TJ Perenara will miss this Saturday's Super Rugby Aotearoa match against the Highlanders, as he awaits the birth of his first child.
Wife Greer is due to give birth over the weekend and with uncertainty around COVID-19 spread, TJ has opted to withdraw from the fixture at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Coach Jason Holland has made three changes to the starting side that beat the Chiefs 31-18 in Wellington last weekend - all of them in the backline - with no sign of Julian Savea in the matchday 23.
With Perenara missing, Jamie Booth has been promoted to the starting side at halfback, with Jonathan Taumatiene in line for his club debut off the bench.
After a dangerous tackle against Chiefs halfback Brad Weber, winger Kobus van Wyk has been suspended, with Vince Aso shifting from the midfield.
Van Wyk has played his last game for the franchise, as he departs to join the Leicester Tigers in England.
Billy Proctor moves into centre, with two-try hero Peter Umaga-Jensen at second-five.
On the bench, Liam Mitchell will provide cover for the locks, while Salesi Rayasi and Chase Tiatia have been added as backline cover.
When the two teams met earlier this season, the Hurricanes claimed a 17-8 win.
Hurricanes: 1-Ben May, 2-Dane Coles, 3-Tyrel Lomax, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Scott Scrafton, 6-Reed Prinsep, 7-Du'Plessis Kirifi, 8-Ardie Savea, 9-Jamie Booth, 10-Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11-Wes Goosen, 12-Peter Umaga-Jensen, 13-Billy Proctor, 14-Vince Aso, 15-Jordie Barrett
Reserves: 16-Ricky Riccitelli, 17-Tevita Mafileo, 18-Pouri Rakete-Stones, 19-Liam Mitchell, 20-Devan Flanders, 21-Jonathan Taumatiene, 22-Salesi Rayasi, 23-Chase Tiatia
Join us for live updates of the Highlanders v Hurricanes Super Rugby Aotearoa clash from 7:05pm Saturday
