Highlanders head coach Jamie Joseph has named his team to play the Chiefs at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on Saturday night.
With Brad Thorn unavailable due to a rib injury, Jarrad Hoeata moves into tighthead lock and Joe Wheeler (returning from a compound fracture in his finger) starts at loosehead.
John Hardie is back in the starting XV and a re-shuffle in the backline to cover injured winger Patrick Osborne sees Malakai Fekitoa move to the left wing and Winston Stanley into centre. This will be Stanley’s debut for the Highlanders after playing for the Force from 2012.
Brayden Mitchell and Matias Diaz move into the front row reserve positions with Trent Renata coming onto the bench as well.
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Richard Buckman, 13 Winston Stanley, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Malakai Fekitoa, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu (Captain), 7 John Hardie, 6 Gareth Evans, 5 Joe Wheeler, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Chris King, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Kane Hames
Replacements: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Matias Diaz, 18 Craig Millar, 19 Josh Bekhuis, 20 Shane Christie, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Trent Renata, 23 Phil Burleigh.
Date: Saturday 1 March
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Kick-off: 08:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 06:35 GMT)
Referee: Rohan Hoffmann (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Garratt Williamson, (New Zealand) Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
TMO: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)