Official team lists and injury news for this week's round of Super Rugby Pacific.
NB: Chiefs v Moana Pasifika match postponed.
Highlanders v Crusaders
7pm, Friday, February 25
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
The Highlanders squad is largely unchanged to the one that lost to the Chiefs 24-16 last week. Fullback Connor Garden-Bachop gets his first game of the season in the No.15 jersey, shifting Sam Gilbert to the wing.
Thomas Umaga-Jensen will also start at second-five, after coming off the bench against the Chiefs.
Highlanders: 1-Ethan de Groot, 2-Liam Coltman, 3-Jermaine Ainsley, 4-Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-James Lentjes, 8-Gareth Evans, 9-Aaron Smith, 10-Mitch Hunt, 11-Josh TImu, 12-Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 13-Fetuli Paea, 14-Sam Gilbert, 15-Connor Garden-Bachop
Reserves: 16-Rhys Marshall, 17-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18-Josh Hohneck, 19-Bryn Evans, 20-Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, 21-Folau Fakatava, 22-Marty Banks, 23-Hugh Renton
Canterbury loose forward Corey Kellow will likely become Crusader No. 255, when he comes off the bench against the Highlanders.
Coach Scott Robertson has made few changes to the side that overpower the Hurricanes last week, rotating halfback Bryn Hall and winger George Bridge to the reserves, replaced by Mitch Drummond and Sevu Reece.
Crusaders: 1-Joe Moody, 2-Brodie McAlister, 3-Oli Jager, 4-Samuel Whitelock, 5-Scott Barrett, 6-Pablo Matera, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Cullen Grace, 9-Mitch Drummond, 10-Fergus Burke, 11-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12- David Havili, 13-Braydon Ennor, 14-Sevu Reece, 15-Will Jordan
Reserves: 16-Shilo Klein, 17-George Bower, 18-Tamaiti Williams, 19-Quinten Strange, 20-Corey Kellow, 21-Bryn Hall, 22-Simon Hickey, 23-George Bridge
Blues v Hurricanes
7pm, Saturday, February 26
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
League convert Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been named to make his long awaited rugby return, slotted into the Blues starting line-up at second-five.
After 137 games for the Crusaders, veteran lock Luke Romano will make his Blues debut, as will former Hurricanes hooker Ricky Riccitelli and Tasman flanker Anton Segner.
Missing from the squad are captain Dalton Papalii, and fellow All Blacks Beauden Barrett and Akira Ioane, with Harry Plummer named in the No.10 jersey.
Blues: 1- Alex Hodgman, 2-Kurt Eklund, 3-Nepo Laulala, 4-Luke Romano, 5-Josh Goodhue, 7-Tom Robinson, 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Finlay Christie, 10-Harry Plummer, 11-Caleb Clarke, 12-Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Mark Telea, 15-Zarn Sullivan
Reserves: 16-Ricky Riccitelli, 17-Ofa Tuungafasi, 18-Marcel Renata, 19-Sam Darry, 20-Adrian Choat, 21-Sam Nock, 22-Stephen Perofeta, 23-Tanielu Tele'a
Former Blues flanker Blake Gibson will make his Hurricanes debut against his old outfit, while lock James Blackwell logs his 50th appearance for the franchise. Former All Blacks winger Julian Savea will line up in the midfield, matched against Tuivasa-Sheck at second-five.
Hurricanes: 1-Pouri Rakete-Stones, 2-Asafo Aumua, 3-Tyrel Lomax, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Justin Sangster, 6-Reed Prinsep, 7-Blake Gibson, 8-Ardie Savea, 9-Jamie Booth, 10-Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11-Salesi Rayasi, 12-Julian Savea, 13-Bailyn Sullivan, 14-Wes Goosen, 15-Jordie Barrett
Reserves: 16-Jacob Devery, 17-Xavier Numia, 18-Ben May, 19-Devan Flanders, 20-Brayden Iose, 21-Richard Judd, 22-Ruben Love, 23-Peter Umaga-Jensen
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