Blues v Highlanders
8pm Friday, March 1
All Blacks prop Ethan de Groot will return to the fold for the Highlanders in their round two Super Rugby Pacific lash with the Blues on Friday.
De Groot missed last weekend's opening win against Moana Pasifika due to a knee injury.
For the Blues, All Blacks forwards Ofa Tu'ungafasi and Akira Ioane return for their first starts of 2024
Meanwhile in the backline, Taufa Funaki gets a start at halfback while Bryce Heem and AJ Lam have a chance to impress in the midfield.
Highlanders: 1-Ethan de Groot, 2-Henry Bell, 3-Jermaine Ainsley, 4- Pari Pari Parkinson, 5-Max Hicks, 6-Sean Withy, 7-Billy Harmon (C), 8-Hugh Renton, 9-Folau Fakatava, 10-Rhys Patchell, 11-Jona Nareki, 12-Sam Gilbert , 13-Tanielu Tele'a, 14-Timoci Tavatavanawai, 15-Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Reserves: 16. Ricky Jackson, 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18. Saula Ma'u, 19. Fabian Holland, 20. Nikora Broughton, 21. Nathan Hastie, 22. Ajay Faleafaga, 23. Jonah Lowe
Blues: 1- Ofa Tu'ungafasi 2- Ricky Riccitelli, 3- Marcel Renata, 4- Laghlan McWhannell, 5-Sam Darry, 6-Akira Ioane, 7-Dalton Papali'i (c), 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Taufa Funaki, 10-Stephen Perofeta, 11-Caleb Clarke, 12-Bruce Heem, 13-AJ Lam, 14-Mark Tele’a, 15-Zarn Sullivan
Reserves: 16- Soane Vikena, 17- Joshua Fusitu'a, 18- Angus Ta’avao, 19- Josh Beehre, 20-Adrian Choat, 21-Sam Nock, 22-Harry Plummer, 23-Cole Forbes
Chiefs v Brumbies
4pm Sunday, March 3
All Blacks first-five Damien McKenzie has bounced back from the rib injury that sidelined him at halftime of last weekend's game to reclaim his No. 10 jersey against the Brumbies.
Forward Bradley Slater will celebrate his 50th cap for the Chiefs.
Chiefs: 1- Ollie Norris, 2-Bradley Slater, 3-George Dyer, 4- Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 5-Tupou Vaa'i, 6-Samipeni Finau, 7-Kaylum Boshier, 8-Luke Jacobson (c), 9-Xavier Roe, 10-Damian McKenzie, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12- Rameka Poihipi, 13-Anton Lienert-Brown, 14-Liam Coombes-Fabling, 15- Shaun Stevenson
Reserves: 16-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17 Jared Proffit, 18- Reuben O’Neill, 19-J Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20-Simon Parker, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Josh Ioane, 23-Daniel Rona
Hurricanes v Reds
6:30pm Sunday, March 3
All Blacks halfback Cam Roigard returns for the Hurricanes, while Jordie Barret will earn his 100th cap for the franchise.
All Blacks prop Tyrel Lomax reclaims his place in the starting line-up,
Hurricanes: 1-Xavier Numia, 2-Asafo Aumua, 3- Tyrel Lomax, 4-Caleb Delany, 4- Caleb Delany, 5-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6-TK Howden, 7-Peter Lakai, 8-Brayden Iose, 9-Cam Roigard, 10-Brett Cameron, 11-Kini Naholo, 12-Jordie Barrett, 13-Billy Proctor, 14-Josh Moorby, 15-Ruben Love
Reserves: 16-James O'Reilly, 17-Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18- Pasilio Tosi, 19-Justin Sangster, 20- Veveni Lasaqa, 21- Jordi Viljoen, 22-Riley Higgins, 23-Salesi Rayasi
Crusaders v Waratahs
9:35pm, Saturday March 2
All Blacks midfielder David Havili returns for the match against the Sydneysiders.
Taha Kemara has his chance to shine in the No. 10 jersey, while injured All Blacks prop Tamaiti Williams is replaced by Fletcher Newell.
Crusaders: 1- George Bower, 2-George Bell, 3-Fletcher Newell, 4-Scott Barrett (c), 5-Quentin Strange, 6- Dominic Gardiner, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Cullen Grace, 9-Noah Hotham, 10-Taha Kemara, 11-Macca Springer, 12-David Havili, 12-Levi Aumua, 14-Sevu Reece, 15-Chay Fihaki
Reserves: 16-Quinten Macdonald, 17-Joe Moody, 18-Owen Franks, 19-Jamie Hannah, 20-Christian Lio-Willie, 21-Mitchell Drummond, 22-Ryan Crotty, 23-Dallas McLeod
