The latest on line-ups and injuries for all NZ franchises...
Chiefs v Hurricanes
7pm Friday, May 24
FMG Stadium, Hamilton
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan has stuck with the same starting XV that accounted for Melbourne Rebels last week, but tweaked the bench.
Tyrone Thompson replaces Bradley Slater as reserve hooker, prop Sione Ahio takes the place of Reuben O'Neill and former All Black halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi steps in for Xavier Roe.
Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3-George Dyer, 4-Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 5-Tupou Vaa'i, 6-Simon Parker, 7-Kaylum Boshier, 8-Luke Jacobson, 9-Cortez Ratima, 10-Damian McKenzie, 11-Etene Nani-Seturo, 12-Quinn Tupaea, 13-Anton Lienert-Brown, 14-Emoni Narawa, 15-Shaun Stevenson
Reserves: 16-Tyrone Thompson, 17-Jared Proffit, 18-Sione Ahio, 19-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20-Wallace Setiti, 21-Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22-Josh Ioane, 23-Rameka Poihipi
Hurricanes captain Brad Shields and All Blacks prop Tyrel Lomax will miss the key local derby with injury, as midfield Jordie Barrett assumes the leadership.
Coach Clark Laidlaw has made 11 changes to the starting XV that beat Moana Pasifika, bringing back the inside back combination of TJ Perenara and Brett Cameron, and fullback Ruben Love.
Named on the bench, Caleb Delany will make his 50th appearance for the franchise.
Hurricanes: 1-Xavier Numia, 2-Raymond Tuputupu, 3-Pasilio Tosi, 4-Justin Sangster, 5-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6-Devan Flanders, 7-Peter Lakai, 8-Brayden Iose, 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Brett Cameron, 11-Kini Naholo, 12-Jordie Barrett (c), 13-Billy Proctor, 14-Josh Moorby, 15-Ruben Love
Reserves: 16-James O'Reilly, 17-Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18-Tevita Mafileo, 19-Caleb Delany, 20-TK Howden, 21-Richard Judd, 22-Peter Umaga-Jensen, 23-Salesi Rayasi
Crusaders v Blues
7pm Saturday, May 25
Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
All Blacks loose forward Ethan Blackadder will return against the Blues, after another season battling injury. Powerhouse centre Levi Aumua is the only other change to the starting XV, replacing Jone Rova in the No.13 jersey.
All Blacks Tamaiti Williams and Dallas McLeod have been added to the bench.
Crusaders: 1-Joe Moody, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Fletcher Newell, 4-Antonio Shalfoon, 5-Quinten Strange, 6-Cullen Grace, 7-Ethan Blackadder, 8-Christian Lio-Willie, 9-Noah Hotham, 10-Fergus Burke, 11-Sevu Reece, 12-David Havili, 13-Levi Aumua, 14-Chay Fihaki, 15-Johnny McNicholl
Reserves: 16-George Bell, 17-George Bower, 18-Tamaiti Williams, 19-Jamie Hannah, 20-Tom Christie, 21-Mitch Drummond, 22-Taha Kemara, 23-Dallas McLeod
All Blacks flanker Dalton Papali'i and winger Caleb Clarke will miss the showdown against the Crusaders on mandatory rest, but centre Rieko Ioane returns from concussion and captain Patrick Tuipulotu back from rest.
A late scratching last week, Stephen Perofeta will return from his shoulder injury at fullback, alloweind Harry Plummer to retain the No.10 jersey. Halfback Taufa Funaki is also back in the starting XV.
Blues: 1-Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 2-Kurt Eklund, 3-Angus Ta'avao, 4-Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 5-Sam Darry, 6-Akira Ioane, 7-Adrian Choat, 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Taufa Funaki, 10-Harry Plummer, 11-AJ Lam, 12-Corey Evans, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Mark Tele'a, 15-Stephen Perofeta
Reserves: 16-Ricky Riccitelli, 17-Joshua Fusitu'a, 18-PJ Sheck, 19-Josh Beehre, 20-Cameron Suafoa, 21-Sam Nock, 22-Cole Forbes, 23-Caleb Tangitau
Highlanders v Fijian Drua
2pm Sunday, May 26
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Young first-five Ajay Falegaga has been handed the Highlanders No.10 jersey in a game with huge playoff repercussions. Cam Millar has made the role his own in recent weeks, but suffered a headknock that will keep him sidelined against the Drua.
Veterans Bill Harmon and Jona Nareki return to the line-up, with Harmon sharing his captaincy with All Blacks prop Ethan de Groot, who filled in admirably during an injury absence.
Highlanders: 1-Ethan de Groot (cc), 2-Henry Bell, 3-Jermaine Ainsley, 4-Mitch Dunshea, 5-Fabian Holland, 6-Oliver Haig, 7-Sean Withy, 8-Billy Harmon (cc), 9-Folau Fakatava, 10-Ajay Falegaga, 11-Jona Nareki, 12-Sam Gilbert, 13-Jake Te Hiwi, 14-Timoci Tavatavanawai, 15-Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Reserves: 16-Jack Taylor, 17-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18-Saula Ma'u, 19-Max Hicks, 20-Nikora Broughton, 21-James Arscott, 22-Matt Whaanga, 23-Connor Garden-Bachop
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