Official team lists and injury news for this week's round of Super Rugby Pacific.
Moana Pasifika v Hurricanes
7:05pm Friday, March 25
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
Moana Pasifika have made four changes to their squad, as they continue their pursuit of a maiden Super Rugby victory.
Hooker Samiuela Moli is promoted to the starting line-up, after two impressive performances from the bench.
Manawatu lock Veikoso Poloniati will make his debut at lock, after Mike McKee sustained a shoulder injury during the heavy defeat to the Chiefs last weekend.
Manu Samoa international Henry Taefu will also make his debut, combining with Levi Aumua in a newlook midfield.
Moana Pasifika: 1-Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 2-Samiuela Moli, 3-Sekope Kepu, 4-Veikoso Poloniati, 5-Samuel Slade, 6-Sione Tu’ipulotu, 7-Solomone Funaki, 8-Henry Time-Stowers, 9-Jonathan Taumateine, 10-Christian Leali'ifano, 11-Neria Foma'i, 12-Henry Taefu, 13-Levi Aumua, 14-Tima Fainga’anuku, 15-William Havili
Reserves: 16-Ray Niuia, 17-Taukiha’amea Koloamatangi, 18-Joe Apikotoa, 19-Alex McRobbie, 20-Josh Kaifa, 21-Ereatara Enari, 22-Lincoln McClutchie, 23-Danny Toala
The Hurricanes will be boosted by the long-awaited return of All Blacks veteran TJ Perenara, who's back from a near two-year absence to start at halfback.
He'll partner with first-five Aidan Morgan, one of four Hurricanes debutants, along with midfielder Teihorangi Walden, wing Josh Moorby and lock Tom Parsons.
All Blacks star Ardie Savea, brother Julian, first-five Ruben Love and in-form wing Salesi Rayasi bolster a strong bench unit.
Hurricanes: 1-Xavier Numia, 2-Asafo Aumua, 3-Tyrel Lomax, 4-Caleb Delany, 5-Scott Scrafton, 6-Reed Prinsep, 7-Blake Gibson, 8-Brayden Iose, 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Aidan Morgan, 11-Wes Goosen, 12-Teihorangi Walden, 13-Peter Umaga-Jensen, 14-Josh Moorby, 15-Jordie Barrett
Reserves: 16-James O'Reilly, 17-Alex Fidow, 18-Tevita Mafileo, 19-Tom Parsons, 20-Ardie Savea, 21-Cameron Roigard, 22-Ruben Love, 23-Salesi Rayasi
Highlanders v Blues
4:35pm Saturday, March 26
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Flanker James Lentjes and prop Daniel Lienert-Brown bolster the starting pack to take on the Blues, with Scott Gregory named at second-five and Sam Gilbert returning to fullback.
Dutch lock Fabian Holland will make his Highlanders debut off the bench, with coach Tony Brown again opting for an extra forward among his reserves.
Highlanders: 1-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2-Liam Coltman, 3-Jermaine Ainsley, 4-Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-James Lentjes, 8-Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, 9-Aaron Smith (c), 10-Mitch Hunt, 11-Mosese Dawai, 12-Scott Gregory, 13-Fetuli Paea, 14-Ngatungane Punivai, 15-Sam Gilbert
Reserves: 16-Andrew Makalio, 17-Ayden Johnstone, 18-Josh Hohneck, 19-Fabian Holland, 20-Gareth Evans, 21-Folau Fakatava, 22-Vilimoni Koroi, 23-Hugh Renton
Star first-five Beauden Barrett, halfback Sam Nock and prop Ofa Tuungafasi have been named for their first starts for the Blues this season, while veteran forwards Josh Goodhue and Tom Robinson return to the starting line-up.
Barrett came off the bench against the Chiefs in round two and was due to start against the Highlanders two weeks ago, before COVID-19 made him a late scratching.
Among the reserves, Corey Evans has been named for a Blues debut.
Blues: 1-Ofa Tuungafasi, 2-Kurt Eklund, 3-Marcel Renata, 4-James Tucker, 5-Josh Goodhue, 6-Tom Robinson, 7-Dalton Papalii (c), 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Sam Nock, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Caleb Clarke, 12-Bryce Heem, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Mark Telea, 15-Zarn Sullivan
Reserves: 16-Ricky Riccitelli, 17-Jordan Lay, 18-Nepo Laulala, 19-Sam Darry, 20-Adrian Choat, 21-Taufa Funaki, 22-Corey Evans, 23-Stephen Perofeta
Chiefs v Crusaders
7:05pm Saturday, March 26
FMG Stadium, Hamilton
The Chiefs will welcome back most of their All Blacks contingent, after Sam Cane, Samisoni Taukei'aho and Josh Lord missed last weekend's win over Moana Pasifika.
But they'll be without breakout No.8 star Pita Gus Sowakula, sidelined with injury and replaced by Waikato’s Samipeni Finau.
All Blacks Luke Jacobson and Anton Lienert-Brown remain unavailable due to injury, while prop Angus Ta'avao will come off the bench for his 100th Super Rugby appearance.
In the backs, Quinn Tupaea start sat second five-eighth, alongside Alex Nankivell.
Changes to the outside backs see Etene Nanai-Seturo on the left wing and Shaun Stevenson reclaiming a starting spot on the right.
Chiefs: 1-Ollie Norris, 2-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3-Sione Mafileo, 4-Josh Lord, 5-Brodie Retallick, 6-Tupou Vaa'i, 7-Sam Cane (cc), 8-Samipeni Finau, 9-Brad Weber, 10-Bryn Gatland, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Quinn Tupaea, 13-Alex Nankivell, 14-Shaun Stevenson, 15-Kaleb Trask
Reserves: 16-Tyrone Thompson, 17-Aidan Ross, 18-Angus Ta'avao, 19-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20-Kaylum Boshier, 21-Mitch Jacobson, 22-Cortez Ratima, 23-Josh Ioane
Vice-captain David Havili will become the Crusaders' 22nd centurion, when he runs out at second-five against the Chiefs, while at the other end of the spectrum, prop Finlay Brewis will make his debut in the starting line-up.
All Blacks Codie Taylor, George Bower and Sevu Reece have been named on the bench.
Crusaders: 1-Finlay Brewis, 2-Brodie McAlister, 3-Oli Jager, 4-Scott Barrett, 5-Quinten Strange, 6-Ethan Blackadder, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Cullen Grace, 9-Bryn Hall, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-George Bridge, 12-David Havili, 13-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 14-Chay Fihaki, 15-Will Jordan
Reserves: 16-Codie Taylor, 17-George Bower, 18-Tamaiti Williams, 19-Mitch Dunshea, 20-Corey Kellow, 21-
Mitch Drummond, 22-Fergus Burke, 23-Sevu Reece
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