Jack Lam
Hurricanes flanker Jack Lam will play his 50th match for the Wellington-based franchise when they host the Chiefs on Saturday.
Lam said clocking up a win in his 50th match would not only be an achievement for him, but the Hurricanes club as a whole.
“Personally, I’m humbled and honoured to reach 50 games, but as a team, this match is huge for us in terms of how the remainder of our season plays out,” he told the Hurricanes’ website.
“I’m just looking forward to getting stuck in and leaving everything out on that field.”
Hooker Dane Coles comes back in to the Hurricanes’ starting line-up after a week’s injury break, while flyhalf Beauden Barrett has recovered well from a hip injury and is expected to start against the Chiefs.
Should Ash Dixon be deemed unfit in the coming days, Reggie Goodes will provide cover at hooker, and Mike Kainga will suit up for the first time as a Hurricane.
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, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Ben Franks
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon / Reggie Goodes, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Reggies Goodes / Mike Kainga, 19 Brad Shields, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 Chris Smylie, 22 Tim Bateman, 23 Matt Proctor / James Marshall.
Date: Saturday 24 May
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Kick-Off: 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Mike Fraser (New Zealand), Mike Lash (New Zealand)
TMO: Chris Watt (New Zealand)