Official team lists and injury news for this week's round of Super Rugby Pacific.
Moana Pasifika v Western Force
7:05pm Tuesday, May 23
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
Manu Samoa veteran Jack Lam will captain the home side in their midweek catch-up game, originally postponed from last month, when the Western Australians suffered a wave of COVID-19 through their ranks.
With another game against ACT Brumbies looming in four days, coach Aaron Mauger has returned only two players - flanker Sione Tu'ipulotu and winger Tomasi Alosio - from his starting line-up against Queensland last week.
Hawke's Bay Magpies teammates Ereatara Enari and Lincoln McClutchie will form the halfback/first-five combination, while powerhouse centre Levi Aumua returns, after missing the Australian road trip.
Moana Pasifika: 1-Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 2-Luteru Tolai, 3-Chris Apoua, 4-Veikoso Poloniati, 5-Mahonri Ngakuru, 6-Sione Tu'ipulotu, 7-Alamanda Motuga, 8-Jack Lam (c), 9-Ereatara Enari, 10-Lincoln McClutchie, 11-Neria Foma'i, 12-Henry Taefu, 13-Levi Aumua, 14-Tomasi Alosio, 15-Lolagi Visinia
Reserves: 16-Samiuela Moli, 17-Taukiha'amea Koloamatangi, 18-Joe 'Apiokotoa, 19-Alex McRobbie, 20-Penitoa Finau, 21-Manu Paea, 22-Fine Inisi, 23-Anzelo Tu'itavuki
Crusaders v Queensland Reds
7:35pm Friday, May 27
Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson will rest injured All Blacks Richie Mo'unga and Codie Taylor from their final round robin fixture against the Reds.
First-five Mo'unga is carrying a finger injury, while hooker Taylor injured rib cartilage against the Brumbies two weeks ago. Both sat out last week's romp over Fijian Drua, but Robertson insists they could have played this week, if required.
The Crusaders have already secured a home quarter-final, although victory over the Reds would also ensure they avoid a possible semi-final visit to Canberra against ACT Brumbies.
Midfielder Jack Goodhue will also sit out the game, as part of his return from a long-term knee injury, but otherwise, Robertson has named a near-full strength line-up.
Crusaders: 1-George Bower, 2-Brodie McAlister, 3-Oli Jager, 4-Scott Barrett (c), 5-Sam Whitelock, 6-Pablo Matera, 7-Ethan Blackadder, 8-Cullen Grace, 9-Bryn Hall, 10-Fergus Burke, 11-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12-David Havili, 13-Braydon Ennor, 14-Sevu Reece, 15-Will Jordan
Reserves: 16-Ricky Jackson, 17-Finlay Brewis, 18-Tamaiti Williams, 19-Zach Gallagher, 20-Tom Christie, 21-Mitch Drummond, 22-Chay Finaki, 23-George Bridge
Fijian Drua v Chiefs
3pm Saturday, May 28
Churchill Park, Lautoka
All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick will return from a two-month absence with a broken thumb, as the Chiefs try to secure home advantage for their quarter-final next week.
With captain Sam Cane nursing a leg injury, coach Clayton McMillan has reshuffled his loose forward trio, with Luke Jacobson moving to the openside, Pita Gus Sowakula at No.8 and Samipeni Finau on blindside.
In the backline, midfielder Alex Nankivell moves to the wing, with Rameka Poihipi installed at centre.
Sowakula returns to his hometown of Lautoka, while winger Emoni Narawa was also born in Fiji.
Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3-Angus Ta’avao, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Tupou Vaa’i, 6-Samipeni Finau, 7-Luke Jacobson, 8-Pita Gus Sowakula, 9-Brad Weber (c), 10-Bryn Gatland, 11-Alex Nankivell, 12-Quinn Tupaea, 13-Rameka Poihipi, 14-Emoni Narawa, 15-Kaleb Trask
Reserves: 16-Bradley Slater, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-Atu Moli, 19-Naitoa Ah Khoi, 20-Kaylum Boshier, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Josh Ioane, 23-Jonah Lowe
Moana Pasifika v ACT Brumbies
7:05pm Saturday, May 28
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
Former Brumbies star Christian Leali'ifano will front up against his old side, when the competition newcomers play the final match of their maiden Super Rugby season. The first-five made 150 appearances for ACT from 2007-19.
Only two players - flanker Alamanda Motuga and centre Levin Aumua - have been retained from the starting line-up that faced Western Force on Tuesday.
Forward Lotu Inisi will make his Super Rugby debut off the bench, alongside older brother Fine Inisi.
Moana Pasifika: 1-Abraham Pole, 2-Ray Niuia, 3-Sekope Kepu (c), 4-Michael Curry, 5-Samuel Slade, 6-Solomone Funaki, 7-Alamanda Motuga, 8-Henry Time-Stowers, 9-Jonathan Taumateine, 10-Christian Leali’ifano, 11-Timoci Tavatavanawai, 12-Danny Toala, 13-Levi Aumua, 14-Solomone Kata, 15-William Havili
Reserve: 16-Samiuela Moli, 17-Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 18-Joe 'Apikotoa, 19-Sione Tu'ipulotu, 20-Lotu Inisi, 21-Manu Paea, 22-Fine Inisi, 23-Anzelo Tuitavuki
NSW Waratahs v Blues
9:45pm Saturday, May 28
Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
Luke Romano captains a Blues line-up that sees most of their frontline players rested for the upcoming playoffs.
With home advantage throughout the postseason now guaranteed, only one player - loose forward Anton Segner - has retained his starting spot from last week's win over ACT Brumbies.
Lock Josh Goodhue returns from injury to partner Romano in the second row, All Blacks Akira Ioane and Karl Tu'inukuafe have been named among the reserves, while Nigel Ah Wong will likely debut off the bench.
"We are in no way disrespecting our opposition," insisted coach Leon MacDonald. "We have a very healthy respect for the Waratahs and believe we have named a team able to perform to our standards against them.
"One of our major strengths this season has been the quality of our young players, who have been fronting every week in training. We have had limited chances to see them under pressure in a game situation and prepare for any potential injuries.
"We also lost our bye week, and we have asked a lot of the guys in recent weeks and they have delivered in spades."
Blues: 1-Jordan Lay, 2-Ricky Riccitelli, 3-Nepo Laulala, 4-Luke Romano (c), 5-Josh Goodhue, 6-Anton Segner, 7-Adrian Choat, 8-Taine Plumtree, 9-Sam Nock, 10-Jock McKenzie, 11-AJ Lam, 12-Corey Evans, 13-Tamati Tua, 14-Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 15-Zarn Sullivan
Reserves: 16-Soane Vikena, 17-Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18-Marcel Renata, 19-Sam Darry, 20-Cameron Suafoa, 21-Akira Ioane, 22-Taufa Funaki, 23-Nigel Ah-Wong
Western Force v Hurricanes
Midnight Saturday, May 28
nib Stadium
Former All Blacks prop Owen Franks will make his first start for the Hurricanes, named in the No.3 jersey for his side's final regular season match.
Franks, 34, has been a fixture on the Hurricanes bench since his debut for the club earlier this season, but makes his first appearance in the run-on side this weekend, replacing Tyrel Lomax in the starting XV.
As part of a newlook propping duo, Franks is joined by Pouri Rakete-Stones, while Dane Coles starts at hooker.
In the second row, Justin Sangster takes Isaia Walker-Leawere's place, while Caleb Delany takes Blake Gibson's spot at No.6.
Brayden Iose starts at No.8, while captain Ardie Savea returns on the bench, after missing last week's win against Melbourne Rebels for personal reasons.
TJ Perenara captains the side from halfback, partnering with Aidan Morgan in the halves. In the backs, Jordie Barrett is given a week off before the Super Rugby playoffs, as Billy Proctor and Bailyn Sullivan form the midfield pairing.
On the wings, Wes Goosen takes over from Julian Savea on the right flank.
Hurricanes: 1-Pouri Rakete-Stones, 2-Dane Coles, 3-Owen Franks, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Justin Sangster, 6-Caleb Delany, 7-Du'Plessis Kirifi, 8-Brayden Iose, 9-TJ Perenara (c), 10-Aidan Morgan, 11-Salesi Rayasi, 12-Billy Proctor, 13-Bailyn Sullivan, 14-Wes Goosen, 15-Josh Moorby
Reserves: 16-Asafo Aumua, 17-Xavier Numia, 18-Tevita Mafileo, 19-Blake Gibson, 20-Ardie Savea, 21-Jamie Booth, 22-Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23-Teihorangi Walden
Melbourne Rebels v Highlanders
4pm Sunday, May 29
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Changes to the Highlanders front row see the return of Ethan de Groot from his one-week break and Andrew Makalio named at hooker, replacing Liam Coltman who suffered a calf injury against NSW Waratahs.
Bryn Evans also comes back to the second row after a week off. The remainder of the second row and loose forward trio has a familiar look with Dickson, Lentjes, Harmon and Mikaele-Tu'u in their regular positions.
The experienced Marty Banks will lead the team from first-five and link up in the mid-field with Thomas Umaga-Jensen and Josh Timu. Umaga-Jensen was pulled from the starting line-up before the game against the Waratahs with a minor back strain.
Daniel Lienert-Brown will take the field for his 100th Highlanders game, when called on from the bench, joining club legends Aaron Smith, Ben Smith, Liam Coltman, Anton Oliver, Jimmy Cowan, Chris King, Elliot Dixon and Ash Dixon.
Highlanders: 1-Ethan de Groot, 2-Andrew Makalio, 3-Jermaine Ainsley, 4-Bryn Evans, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-James Lentjes, 7-Billy Harmon, 8-Marino Makaele-Tu'u, 9-Aaron Smith, 10-Marty Banks, 11-Rory van Vugt, 12-Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 13-Josh Timu, 14-Fetuli Paea, 15-Liam Coombes-Fabling
Reserves: 16- Rhys Marshall, 17-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18-Saula Mau, 19-Sam Caird, 20-Hugh Renton, 21-Folau Fakatava, 22-Vilimoni Koroi, 23-Denny Solomona
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