Victor Vito and Brad Shields will pull on the Hurricanes jersey for the first time this season, as their team gears up to face the Bulls at Napier’s McLean Park on Saturday.
Both loose forwards have been out since the beginning of the season with knee injuries, and this weekend’s match will be their first of the 2014 Super Rugby season.
Vito has been named in the number eight jersey, while Shields has claimed a spot in the reserves.
Head coach Mark Hammett has been forced to shuffle his backline from that which faced the Crusaders last weekend, with a shoulder injury ruling Tim Bateman out for the Bulls match. Alapati Leiua has moved to 12, while Cory Jane returns from an ankle injury to occupy a spot on the wing.
After receiving a head knock against the Crusaders, prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen will be monitored throughout the remainder of the week to determine whether he is fit to play on Saturday. If not, his starting spot will go to John Schwalger, and Reggie Goodes, also returning from injury, will come on to the bench.
Hurricanes: 15 Andre Taylor, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (Captain), 12 Alapati Leiua, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Jack Lam, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen/John Schwalger, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Ben Franks
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Chris Eves, 18 John Schwalger / Reggie Goodes, 19 Blade Thomson, 20 Brad Shields, 21 Billy Guyton, 22 Hadleigh Parkes, 23 Marty Banks.
Date: Saturday 5 April
Venue: McLean Park, Napier
Kick-off: 08:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 06:35 GMT)
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Nick Briant (New Zealand), Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)