The Black Ferns have named two front-row debutants for their Pacific Four test against USA in Whangarei on Saturday.
Bay of Plenty hooker Natalie Delamare (25) makes her debut at hooker, two months after scoring a hattrick in the Australian Super W final for NSW Waratahs.
Matatū prop Lucy Anderson will earn her first test cap off the bench, after first trialling for the national team as a midfielder in 2013.
Anderson's selection comes after injury thwarted her chance to make her long-awaited debut in 2018, an experience that left her questioning her future with the side. Those doubts have been cast aside with her call-up this weekend.
"Now, this is my chance and I'm just overwhelmed with the support," said Anderson. "I just can't believe it's really happening.
"It's always been a dream to put on that jersey. I really wanted it to happen, but there were times I doubted myself that I'd actually get there, so I'm just really excited and can't wait for Saturday."
Leilani Perese will make both her first appearance of the series and first test start at prop, with director of rugby Wayne Smith delivering on his promise to give every squad member an opportunity to take the field. Perese is one of the most capped forwards in the current squad, but all her previous appearances have come from the bench.
In other changes, Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu will don the No.9 jersey for her first test start, after playing her previous seven tests behind veteran star Kendra Cocksedge, who has been named to the bench.
After a solid debut performance last weekend, teenager Sylvia Brunt is promoted into the starting line up at second-five, while Chelsea Semple returns from illness to a place on the bench.
"To have genuine competition for spots has got to be good," said Smith. "We have 11 debutants and they’ve all played really well when they’ve had their opportunity.
"For Nat and Lucy, it will rely on the rest of the team how good their debut is. They can't go out and really shine, unless the others go out and shine.
"I'm pretty sure they will."
The Black Ferns are unbeaten through their first two games against Australia and Canada, and Smith hopes to see their improvement continue against the Americans, who present another chance for the team to evolve their identity, with a World Cup on home soil approaching.
"We need to focus on getting our stuff right," Smith added. "Everyone can see the sort of game we are trying to play and it's starting to come together."
Ruby Tui has returned to the national sevens programme and is unavailable for selection, as are the injured Ariana Bayler and Kaipo Olsen-Baker.
Black Ferns: 1-Phillipa Love, 2-Natalie Delamare, 3-Leliani Perese, 4-Maia Roos, 5-Joanah Ngan-Woo, 6-Alana Bremner, 7-Kendra Reynolds, 8-Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, 9-Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, 10-Ruahei Demant, 11-Ayesha Leti-I'iga, 12-Sylvia Brunt, 13-Amy du Plessis, 14-Renee Wickliffe, 15-Renee Holmes
Reserves: 16-Georgia Ponsonby, 17-Krystal Murray, 18-Lucy Anderson, 19-Maiakawanakaulani Roos, 20-Tafito Lafaele, 21-Kendra Cocksedge, 22-Chelsea Semple, 23-Hazel Tubic
Join us at 4pm Saturday for live updates of Black Ferns v USA Pacific Four clash
