Official team lists and injury news for the second week of the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs.
Crusaders v Blues
Friday, June 16, 7:05pm
Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch
The Blues have welcomed back winger Caleb Clarke for their Super Rugby semi-final clash against reigning champions Crusaders at Christchurch.
Clarke slots back into his usual No.11 spot, with AJ Lam dropping out of the match-day squad in the only change from last week's quarter-final win over the NSW Waratahs.
Coach Leon MacDonald has opted for continuity, keeping the faith in the side that have carried them to a semi-finals berth.
"It's nice to be able to show some consistency in selection at this stage of the season; the boys going out there know what they need to do," he said.
"There's a history of epic battles between these two sides and I'm sure Friday will be no different. The Crusaders in Christchurch is a stern test, there's no doubt about that but it's games like this we all look forward to."
The fixture will also mark milestones for veterans Rieko Ioane and Hoskins Sotutu, who will bring up their 100th and 50th caps for the Blues.
Meanwhile, the Crusaders have named an unchanged team from the side that dispatched the Fijian Drua on Saturday.
But coach Scott Robertson has been dealt a double injury blow, with Ethan Blackadder sidelined for the rest of the playoffs, and Sam Whitelock still at least another week away.
Blackadder played just five minutes from the bench on his return from a calf niggle, before he limped off against the Drua.
It marks an injury-ravaged season for the All Blacks hopeful, and he now faces an uphill battle to make Ian Foster's Rugby Championship squad.
Instead, Sione Talitui and Tom Christie will again form the back row alongside No.8 Christian Lio-Willie.
The only changes to the match-day squad is on the bench, with Dominic Gardiner replacing Zach Gallagher, and Corey Kellow taking Blackadder's spot in the reserves.
Crusaders: 1-Tamaiti Williams, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Oli Jager, 4-Scott Barrett, 5-Quin Strange, 6-Sione Talitui, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Christian Lio-Willie, 9-Mitch Drummond, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12-Jack Goodhue, 13-Braydon Ennor, 14-Dallas McLeod, 15-Will Jordan
Reserves: 16-Brodie McAlister, 17-Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 18-Reuben O'Neill, 19-Dominic Gardiner, 20-Corey Kellow, 21-Willi Heinz, 22-Fergus Burke, 23-Chay Fihaki
Blues: 1-Ofa Tuungafasi, 2-Ricky Riccitelli, 3-Nepo Laulala, 4-Tom Robinson, 5-James Tucker, 6-Akira Ioane, 7-Dalton Papali'i (c), 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Finlay Christie, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Caleb Clarke, 12-Bryce Heem, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Mark Telea, 15-Zarn Sullivan
Reserves: 16-Kurt Eklund, 17-Jordan Lay, 18-Marcel Renata, 19-Cameron Suafoa, 20-Adrian Choat/Anton Segner, 21-Sam Nock, 22-Harry Plummer, 23-Stephen Perofeta
Chiefs v Brumbies
Saturday, June 17, 7:05pm
FMG Stadium, Waikato
The Chiefs are back to full strength for their final-four showdown with the Australians on Saturday.
There are just four changes to the starting XV that beat the Reds last weekend.
Tupou Vaa'i and centre Alex Nankivell return from injury, with Rameka Poihipi to add midfield impact from the bench. George Dyer is promoted from the pine to start at tighthead prop.
Luke Jacobson will reclaim the starting No. 8 role, after a late change before kick-off last weekend saw Pita Gus Sowakula swapped into the run-on side.
"The team are relishing the opportunity to play a home semi-final in front of our loyal supporters and whānau," said coach Clayton McMillan. "We feel their presence and the team are hugely motivated to put in a performance they can be proud of.
"The Brumbies will arrive with a lot of confidence following their victory over the Hurricanes. Whilst their customary strengths of lineout maul and contestable kicks were evident, they also showed a willingness to run from deeper in their own half and challenge with the ball in hand, so they are a well-rounded side who can hurt you if you allow them to get their game going.
"We have named an experienced side who are fresh, fit and hungry to do a job."
Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3-George Dyer, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Tupou Vaa'i, 6-Samipeni Finau, 7-Sam Cane (cc), 8-Luke Jacobson, 9-Brad Weber (cc), 10-Damian McKenzie, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Anton Lienert-Brown, 13-Alex Nankivell, 14-Emoni Narawa, 15-Shaun Stevenson
Reserves: 16-Tyrone Thompson, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-John Ryan, 19-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20-Pita Gus Sowakula, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Josh Ioane, 23-Rameka Poihipi
