Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett has named the team of 23 players to face the Cell C Sharks at Kings Park in Durban on Saturday at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT) for their Super Rugby season opener.

Four players are set to make their starting debut and a further 2 might make their debut from the bench.

Three new additions to the Hurricanes side, Hadleigh Parkes, Mark Abbott and Marty Banks have been named in the starting 15, whilst Blade Thomson, who has one cap from the bench under his belt, will get his first start.

The replacement players who might make their Super Rugby debuts are Chris Eves and Adam Hill.

The Hurricanes are captained by the experienced All Blacks centre, Conrad Smith, and Mark Hammett’s side will feature 9 All Blacks and 2 Samoan internationals.

Hurricanes:: 15 Marty Banks, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (Captain), 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Jack Lam, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 Mark Abbott, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Ben Franks
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu’u, 17 Chris Eves, 18 John Schwalger, 19 Mark Reddish, 20 Adam Hill, 21 Chris Smylie, 22 Alapati Leiua, 23 James Marshall.