Official team lists and injury news for NZ teams in this week's round of Super Rugby Pacific.
Chiefs v Reds
Friday, May 12, 7:05pm
Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
With Super Rugby returning to New Plymouth, Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan has named four Taranaki players in his run-on side to play the Reds.
Prop Jared Proffit, New Plymouth Boys High School alumnus Bradley Slater, and All Black locks Tupou Vaa'i and Josh Lord have all been handed starts.
Chiefs No.8 Luke Jacobson will captain the side in Sam Cane and Brad Weber's absences, and is joined by Samipeni Finau and Simon Parker in the loose forwards.
Cortez Ratima will start at halfback, with Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi providing cover from the bench. The in-form Damian McKenzie has been retained at first-five.
Rameka Poihipi and Anton Lienert-Brown will command the midfield with Alex Nankivell named on the substitutes bench.
McMillan is looking forward to heading down to Taranaki to welcome the Reds.
"It is home to a number of our players, and it will be a proud moment for those who were fit and available to play in front of friends and family," he said.
"That played a part in our squad selection; alongside All Blacks rest protocols, increasing squad readiness for upcoming games, and respecting the huge challenge the Reds will bring.
"At this stage of the season, every point counts and I have no doubt both teams will come eager to lock horns in the bullring."
Chiefs: 1-Jared Proffit, 2-Bradley Slater, 3-John Ryan, 4-Tupou Vaa'i, 5-Josh Lord, 6-Samipeni Finau, 7-Simon Parker, 8-Luke Jacobson, 9-Cortez Ratima, 10-Damian McKenzie, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Rameka Poihipi, 13-Anton Lienert-Brown, 14-Emoni Narawa, 15-Shaun Stevenson
Reserves: 16-Tyrone Thompson, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-Atunaisa Moli, 19-Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 21-Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22-Josh Ioane, 23-Alex Nankivell
Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika
Saturday, May 13, 4:35pm
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Cam Roigard and Julian Savea are the notable omissions from the Hurricanes' side to play Moana Pasifika on Saturday.
Following their shock defeat to Fijian Drua last week, the Wellington-based team are looking to bounce back against their Pacific neighbours.
But they will have to do so without the services of Roigard, who has been one of the competition's standout players, with calls for higher honours.
Instead, Jamie Booth takes his spot in the No.9 jersey, with Salesi Rayasi taking over the right wing from Savea.
Hurricanes coach Jason Holland has also opted for a new-look front row, with only All Black Tyrel Lomax retaining his spot.
Lock James Blackwell moves into the second row, with Harry Godfrey replacing Josh Moorby at fullback.
Hurricanes: 1-Tevita Mafileo, 2-Jacob Devery, 3-Tyrel Lomax, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6-Devan Flanders, 7-Du'Plessis Kirifi, 8-Ardie Savea, 9-Jamie Booth, 10-Aidan Morgan, 11-Kini Naholo, 12-Jordie Barrett, 13-Billy Proctor, 14-Salesi Rayasi, 15-Harry Godfrey.
Reserves: 16-Hame Faivu, 17-Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18-Pasilio Tosi, 19-Caleb Delany, 20-Brayden Iose, 21-Logan Henry, 22-Peter Umaga-Jensen, 23-Josh Moorby.
Crusaders v Blues
Saturday, May 13, 7:05pm
Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch
The Blues have welcomed back Beauden Barrett for their Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Crusaders on Saturday.
As the race for the playoffs ramps up, coach Leon MacDonald has named a strong side to tackle the reigning champions in Christchurch.
The Blues are looking to avenge their round four defeat, and are boosted by the return of several All Blacks to their side.
Barrett is joined by Patrick Tuipulotu, Hoskins Sotutu, and Mark Telea, with Rieko Ioane and Finlay Christie promoted from the substitutes.
Veteran loose forward Akira Ioane will also bring up 100 games for the Blues, should he be brought off the bench.
Interestingly, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been left out of the match-day squad, with Harry Plummer preferred at second-five.
The fit-again midfielder marked his return from an almost two-month injury layoff last week against Moana Pasifika, but has missed out on selection for Saturday.
Crusaders: 1-Joey Moody, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Tamaiti Williams, 4-Scott Barrett, 5-Quinten Strange, 6-Christian Lio-Willie, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Cullen Grace, 9-Mitchell Drummond, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12-David Havili, 13-Braydon Ennor, 14-Dallas McLeod, 15-Will Jordan.
Reserves: 16-Brodie McAlister, 17-Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 18-Oliver Jager, 19-Zach Gallagher, 20-Sione Havili Talitui, 21-Noah Hotham, 22-Fergus Burke, 23-Jack Goodhue.
Blues: 1-Ofa Tuungafasi, 2-Ricky Riccitelli, 3-Marcel Renata, 4-Patrick Tuipulotu, 5-Sam Darry, 6-Adrian Choat, 7-Dalton Papali'i, 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Finlay Christie, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Caleb Clark, 12-Harry Plummer, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Mark Telea, 15-Zarn Sullivan.
Reserves: 16-Kurt Eklund, 17-Jordan Lay, 18-James Lay, 19-Cam Suafoa, 20-Akira Ioane, 21-Sam Nock, 22-Bryce Heem, 23-AJ Lam.
Brumbies v Highlanders
Sunday, May 14, 4:35pm
GIO Stadium, Canberra
A wounded Highlanders outfit have named a new-look team to travel to Canberra to take on Australia's best, the Brumbies on Sunday.
A locking crisis has seen All Black Shannon Frizell move into the second row, following Fabian Holland's injury last week.
Holland joins Will Tucker and Pari Pari Parkinson on the sidelines, with All Blacks Ethan de Groot and Aaron Smith rested for the clash.
Instead, Folau Fakatava gets the nod at halfback, with James Arscott providing cover from the replacements bench.
Jona Nareki has been handed a start on the left wing after a couple of encouraging performances from the bench.
Englishman Freddie Burns is again preferred at first-five, with Mitch Hunt named among the substitutes.
Connor Garden-Bachop moves to fullback to replace Sam Gilbert, who has been given a well-earned rest.
Highlanders: 1-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2-Andrew Makalio, 3-Saula Ma'u, 4-Shannon Frizell, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-James Lentjes, 7-Billy Harmon, 8-Hugh Renton, 9-Folau Fakatava, 10-Freddie Burns, 11-Jona Nareki, 12-Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 13-Fetuli Paea, 14-Scott Gregory, 15-Connor Garden-Bachop.
Reserves: 16-Rhys Marshall, 17-Ayden Johnstone, 18-Jermaine Ainsley, 19-Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, 20-Sean Withy, 21-James Arscott, 22-Mitch Hunt, 23-Jonah Lowe.
