Official team lists and injury news for the opening round of Super Rugby Pacific playoffs.
Crusaders v Queensland Reds
7:05pm Friday, June 4
OrangeTheory Stadium, Christchurch
The Crusaders will welcome back their big guns for Friday's quarter-final against the Reds.
Coach Scott Robertson has made 10 changes to the run-on XV which beat the Queenslanders last weekend.
In the backline Richie Mo'unga returns at No. 10, as does fellow All Black Will Jordan at fullback.
David Havili is back in the midfield to partner with Jack Goodhue, who shifts to centre.
After being forced from the field early last weekend, Sevu Reece has passed HIA protocols and will start on the right wing.
In the pack, George Bower, Codie Taylor and Oli Jager form a new front row, while Scott Barrett returns to lock to partner with Sam Whiitelock.
Cullen Grace moves back to No. 8, with Ethan Blackadder starting at openside flanker and Pablo Matera at blindside.
Crusaders: 1-George Bower, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Oli Jager, 4-Scott Barrett (C), 5-Sam Whitelock, 6-Pablo Matera, 7-Ethan Blackadder, 8-Cullen Grace, 9-Bryn Hall, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12-David Havili , 13-Jack Goodhue, 14-Sevu Reece, 15-Will Jordan
Reserves: 16-Brodie McAlister, 17-Finlay Brewis, 18Fletcher Newell, 19-Zach Gallagher, 20-Tom Christie, 21-Mitch Drummond, 22-Braydon Ennor, 23-George Bridge
Chiefs v Waratahs
4:35pm, Saturday June 5
FMG Stadium, Hamilton
The Chiefs have named a familiar side for their quarter-final clash with the NSW Waratahs at FMG Stadium in Hamilton on Saturday.
Co-captain Sam Cane hasn't been considered and will remain on the sidelines for at least another week as he continues to nurse a knee injury.
Luke Jacobson moves to openside with Samipeni Finau remaining in the starting XV, and Pita Gus Sowakula rounding out the loose forward trio.
The Chiefs will boast an impressive locking pairing of All Blacks, Brodie Rettalick and Tupou Vaa'i.
There are also welcomed return for wingers, Jonah Lowe and Etene Nanai-Seturo, as well Alex Nankivell at centre. Lowe scored four tries in the Chiefs 51-27 win over the Waratahs in April.
Weber and Gatland form the regular halves combination, with All Black, Quinn Tupaea partnering with Nankivell in the midfield.
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, 10-Bryn Gatland, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12- Quinn Tupaea, 13-Alex Nankivell, 14-Jonah Lowe, 15-Emoni Narawa
Reserves: 16-Bradley Slater, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-Atu Moli, 19-Naitoa Ah Khoi, 20-Mitch Brown
21-Xavier Rowe, 22-Josh Ioane, 23-Rameka Poihipi
Blues v Highlanders
7:05pm, Saturday June 5
Eden Park, Auckland
The Blues have returned to full strength for the knockout clash with the Highlanders this weekend.
Coach Leon MacDonald has named a completely new starting XV to that which pipped the Waratahs last weekend, when he took the opportunity to rest his regular starters.
The run-on side includes the return of All Blacks star Rieko Ioane, who has recovered from the foot injury which forced him from the field during the demolition of the Reds a fortnight ago.
Caleb Clarke is yet to recover from the hamstring injury suffered against the Brumbies, meaning Bryce Heem starts on the wing.
Blues: 1-Alex Hodgman, 2-Kurt Eklund 3-Ofa Tuungafasi, 4-James Tucker, 5-Tom Robinson, 6-Akira Ioane, 7-Dalton Papalii, 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Finlay Christie, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Mark Telea, 12-Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Bryce Heem, 15-Stephen Perofeta
Reserves: 16-Soane Vikena, 17-Karl Tu'inukuafe, 18-Nepo Laulala, 19-Luke Romano, 20-Adrian Choat, 21-Sam Nock, 22-AJ Lam, 23-Zarn Sullivan
The Highlanders have made four changes to the starting team which lost to the Rebels at Melbourne.
Sscott Gregory returns to the midfield and Mosese Dawai claims the left-wing spot, with Connor Garden-Bachop shifting Liam Coombes-Fabling to the bench.
Upfront, Hugh Renton will replace James Lentjes in the loose forwards after Lentjes left the field last week with a shoulder injury.
In a big boost to the side, All Black Shannon Frizell is back from a lengthy injury layoff to take a place on the bench.
Highlanders: 1-Ethan de Groot, 2-Andrew Makalio, 3-Jermaine Ainsley, 4-Bryn Evans, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-Hugh Renton, 7-Billy Harmon, 8-Marino Makaele-Tu'u, 9-Aaron Smith, 10-Marty Banks, 11-Mosese Dawai, 12-Scott Gregory, 13-Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 14-Fetuli Paea, 15-Connor Garden-Bachop
Reserves: 16-Leni Apisai, 17-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18-Saula Mau, 19-Max Hicks, 20-Shannon Frizell, 21-Folau Fakatava, 22-Liam Coombes-Fabling, 23-Denny Solomona
Join us for live updates of all of the Super Rugby Pacific quarter-finals
Hurricanes v Brumbies
7:45pm, Saturday June 4
GIO Stadium, Canberra
Hurricanes halfback TJ Perenara will bring up 150 Super Rugby games, as coach John Holland rung the changes for their quarter-final against the Brumbies on Saturday.
All Blacks, Ardie Savea and Jordie Barrett have been named in the starting XV, while lock Isaia Walker-Leawere and blindside flanker Blake Gibson return.
Gibson and Savea will form a formidable loose-forward trio with Du'Plessis Kirifi, while Barrett joins Billy Proctor in the Hurricanes' midfield.
Julian Savea has also been named in the run-on side, replacing Wes Goosen on the wing, and forms an electrifying back three with Salesi Rayasi and Josh Moorby.
Goosen drops to the bench, and joins the elusive Brayden Iose and outside back Ruben Love on the pine.
Hurricanes: 1-Tevita Mafileo, 2-Dane Coles, 3-Owen Franks,4-James Blackwell, 5-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6-Blake Gibson, 7-Du'Plessis Kirifi, 8-Ardie Savea, 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Aidan Morgan, 11-Salesi Rayasi , 12-Jordie Barrett, 13-Billy Proctor, 14-Julian Savea, 15-Josh Moorby
Reserves: 16-Asafo Aumua, 17-Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18-Tyrel Lomax, 19-Caleb Delany, 20- Brayden Iose, 21-Jamie Booth, 22-Ruben Love, 23-Wes Goosen
