Cape Town - Tyler Bleyendaal will start at flyhalf for the seven-time champion Crusaders in their Vodacom Super Rugby opener against the defending champion Chiefs in Christchurch on Friday.
Kick-off is at 08:35 SA time.
Sign up for Sport24’s daily Morning Glory/Super Rugby/Soccer newsletter!
With Dan Carter on a sabbatical and Colin Slade suffering from a calf strain, coach Todd Blackadder has opted for Bleyendaal ahead of All Black Tom Taylor, who is on the bench.
Meanwhile, wing Zac Guildford - who is off to France following the tournament - has been left out of the match 23 altogether, with Johnny McNicholl and Nafi Tuitavake preferred on the wings.
Teams:
Crusaders
15 Israel Dagg, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11
Nafi Tuitavake, 10 Tyler Bleyendaal, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7
Richie McCaw (captain), 6 George Whitelock, 5 Dominic Bird, 4 Sam Whitelock, 3
Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Tim Perry
Substitutes: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Luke
Romano, 20 Matt Todd, 21 Willi Heinz, 22 Tom Taylor, 23 Rob Thompson
Chiefs
15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Tim Nanai-Williams, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 Asaeli
Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden (captain), 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Kane Thompson, 7 Tevita
Koloamatangi, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Michael Fitzgerald, 3 Ben
Tameifuna, 2 Rhys Marshall, 1 Jamie Mackintosh
Substitutes: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Pauliasi
Manu, 18 Ben Afeaki, 19 Matt Symons/Liam Squire, 20 Nick Crosswell, 21 Tawera
Kerr-Barlow, 22 Andrew Horrell/Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 James Lowe