Cape Town - The Crusaders have suffered a blow on the eve of their New Zealand Super Rugby derby against the defending champion Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday.
Kick-off is at 09:35 SA time.
All Black tighthead prop Owen Franks will miss the match after picking up a hamstring injury.
Rookie Nepo Laulala has been named to start in the revised Crusaders' team and will scrum against Chiefs loosehead Pauliasi Manu.
Meanwhile, hooker Ben Funnell has been cleared to sit on the bench, while Codie Taylor starts because of an injury to first-choice No 2, Corey Flynn.
The Chiefs and Crusaders occupy first and second places in the New Zealand Conference, respectively, with the Chiefs also topping the current Overall standings. The Crusaders are fifth overall.
Teams:
Chiefs:
15 Robbie Robinson, 14 Patrick Osborne, 13 Charlie Ngatai, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Matt Vant Leven, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke (captain), 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Pauliasi Manu
Substitutes: 16 Mahonri Schwalger, 17 Toby Smith, 18 Michael Fitzgerald, 19 Sam Cane, 20 Augustine Pulu, 21 Dan Waenga, 22 Lelia Masaga
Crusaders:
15 Israel Dagg, 14 Tom Marshall, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 Tom Taylor, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Wyatt Crockett
Substitutes: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Dominic Bird, 19 Luke Whitelock, 20 Willi Heinz, 21 Robbie Fruean, 22 Telusa Vaianu
Kick-off is at 09:35 SA time.
All Black tighthead prop Owen Franks will miss the match after picking up a hamstring injury.
Rookie Nepo Laulala has been named to start in the revised Crusaders' team and will scrum against Chiefs loosehead Pauliasi Manu.
Meanwhile, hooker Ben Funnell has been cleared to sit on the bench, while Codie Taylor starts because of an injury to first-choice No 2, Corey Flynn.
The Chiefs and Crusaders occupy first and second places in the New Zealand Conference, respectively, with the Chiefs also topping the current Overall standings. The Crusaders are fifth overall.
Teams:
Chiefs:
15 Robbie Robinson, 14 Patrick Osborne, 13 Charlie Ngatai, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Matt Vant Leven, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke (captain), 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Pauliasi Manu
Substitutes: 16 Mahonri Schwalger, 17 Toby Smith, 18 Michael Fitzgerald, 19 Sam Cane, 20 Augustine Pulu, 21 Dan Waenga, 22 Lelia Masaga
Crusaders:
15 Israel Dagg, 14 Tom Marshall, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 Tom Taylor, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Wyatt Crockett
Substitutes: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Dominic Bird, 19 Luke Whitelock, 20 Willi Heinz, 21 Robbie Fruean, 22 Telusa Vaianu