Official team lists and injury news for NZ teams in this week's round of Super Rugby Pacific.
Highlanders v Chiefs
Friday, May 5, 7:05pm
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
All Blacks midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown will make his long-awaited return from an ankle injury to play his 100th game for the Chiefs this weekend.
The 60-test international hasn't featured for the undefeated side since leaving the field early in the season opener against the Crusaders.
Midfield cohort Alex Nankivell is also in line for a comeback, named to the bench, while Brodie Retallick sits out with injury. Naitoa Ah Kuoi is promoted to start at lock.
Pita Gus Sowakula also makes the shift to start in the loose forwards alongside Sam Cane and Luke Jacobson. Brad Weber returns at halfback.
Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3-George Dyer, 4-Tupou Vaa'i, 5-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 6-Pita Gus Sowakula, 7-Sam Cane, 8-Luke Jacobson, 9-Brad Weber, 10-Damian McKenzie, 11-Peniasi Malimali, 12-Anton Lienert-Brown, 13-Daniel Rona, 14-Emoni Narawa, 15-Shaun Stevenson
Reserves: 16-Bradley Slater, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-John Ryan, 19-Josh Lord, 20-Kaylum Boshier, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Bryn Gatland, 23-Alex Nankivell
The Highlanders welcome back captain Billy Harmon, as they bid to end a three-game losing streak.
Harmon returns to the 23 after missing last week's defeat to NSW Waratahs to start in the No.7 jersey, while English import Freddie Burns takes the reins at No.10, and drops Mitch Hunt to the bench.
Sam Gilbert shifts back to fullback, seeing Thomas Umaga-Jensen into the No.12 jersey after starting at centre in last week's defeat.
Connor Garden-Bachop moves to the right wing in response to Gilbert's shift, while Jona Nareki stays on the bench, after making his first appearance since 2021 last week.
Highlanders: 1-Ethan de Groot, 2-Andrew Makalio, 3-Jermaine Ainsley, 4-Fabian Holland, 5-Will Tucker, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-Billy Harmon (c), 8-Hugh Renton, 9-Aaron Smith, 10-Freddie Burns, 11-Scott Gregory, 12-Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 13-Fetuli Paea, 14-Connor Garden-Bachop, 15-Sam Gilbert
Reserves: 16-Rhys Marshall, 17-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18-Saula Ma'u, 19-Josh Dickson, 20-Sean Withy, 21-Folau Fakatava, 22-Mitch Hunt, 23-Jona Nareki
Crusaders v Force
Saturday, May 6, 4:35pm
Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch
The Crusaders will receive a huge boost this weekend with the return of All Blacks back Will Jordan.
Jordan has yet to feature in the defending champions' 2023 campaign due to an ongoing inner-ear vestibular issue suffered during last year's Rugby Championship.
Jordan will start at fullback against the Perth-based side
"He's got better and better and chose this game after having a couple of good training weeks," said head coach Scott Robertson.
"He's ready to play the full 80 if needed."
Brodie McAlister takes a spot in the front row for his first start of the season alongside Joe Moody and now-regular starter Tamaiti Williams.
Fresh off his 50th last week, Quinten Strange will pull on the No. 5 jersey, Dom Gardiner in No. 6 with Cullen Grace returning to the starting XV at No. 8.
Noah Hotham takes a starting spot at halfback with Willi Heinz sidelined temporarily with a calf strain
Crusaders: 1-Joe Moody, 2-Brodie McAlister, 3-Tamaiti Williams, 4-Scott Barrett, 5-Quinten Strange, 6-Dom Gardiner, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Cullen Grace, 9-Noah Hotham, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12-David Havili, 13-Braydon Ennor, 14-Macca Springer, 15-Will Jordan
Reserves: 16-Codie Taylor, 17-Finlay Brewis, 18-Oliver Jager, 19-Zach Gallagher, 20-Christian Lio-Willie, 21-Mitchell Drummond, 22-Fergus Burke, 23-Jack Goodhue
Blues v Moana Pasifika
Saturday, May 6, 7:05pm
Eden Park, Auckland
The Blues will welcome Roger Tuivasa-Sheck back into the fold for their clash with Moana Pasifika this weekend, when they'll be on the hunt for a fourth straight win.
Tuivasa-Sheck, 29, hasn't played for the Blues since mid-March, when he suffered a hand injury in his side's 34-28 loss to the Crusaders at Eden Park.
He'll start in the No. 12 jersey on Saturday as one of nine changes to the starting XV that beat the Fijian Drua in Lautoka last weekend.
The Warriors-bound centre will pair with Bryce Heem in the midfield, with Kurt Eklund getting the nod at hooker.
Taufa Funaki and AJ Lam - with Mark Telea on All Blacks rest - get their first starts of the season at halfback and wing respectively.
After a successful return from injury off the bench in the last two matches, Akira Ioane will start at blindside flanker and a positional shift sees Beauden Barrett run at fullback with Harry Plummer slotting in at first-five.
Blues: 1-Ofa Tuungafasi, 2-Kurt Eklund, 3-Marcel Renata, 4-James Tucker, 5-Sam Darry, 6-Akira Ioane, 7-Dalton Papali'i (c), 8-Cam Suafoa, 9-Taufa Funaki, 10-Harry Plummer, 11-Caleb Clarke, 12-Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 13-Bryce Heem, 14-AJ Lam, 15-Beauden Barrett
Reserves: 16-Soane Vikena, 17-Joshua Fusitu'a, 18-James Lay, 19-Tom Robinson, 20-Anton Segner, 21-Finlay Christie, 22-Rieko Ioane, 23-Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Fijian Drua v Hurricanes
Saturday, May 6, 2:05pm (NZ time)
ANZ Stadium, Suva
Head coach Jason Holland has made just four changes to the Hurricanes team that secured victory against the Brumbies at Sky Stadium last weekend.
In the forward pack, Justin Sangster returns from injury to start at lock alongside Isaia Walker-Leawere, who is celebrating his 50th Hurricanes match. TK Howden will provide cover off the bench.
Walker-Leawere, whose father captained Fiji at the Rugby World Cup in 2007, is relishing the opportunity to play this milestone match in front of his family and friends in Fiji.
In the backs, Fijian-born Kini Naholo will make a start on the wing, with Salesi Rayasi looking to provide impact off the bench.
Billy Proctor makes a welcome return following an injury, linking up with Jordie Barrett in the midfield.
Hurricanes: 1-Xavier Numia, 2-Asafo Aumua, 3-Tyrel Lomax, 4-Justin Sangster, 5-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6-Devan Flanders, 7-Du'Plessis Kirifi, 8-Ardie Savea (c), 9-Cam Roigard, 10-Aidan Morgan, 11-Kini Naholo, 12-Jordie Barrett, 13-Billy Proctor, 14-Julian Savea, 15-Josh Moorby
Reserves: 16-Jacob Devery, 17-Tevita Mafileo, 18-Owen Franks, 19-TK Howden, 20-Brayden Iose, 21-Jamie Booth, 22-Harry Godfrey, 23-Salesi Rayasi
