Cape Town - Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger has made several changes to his starting line-up for Friday’s Super Rugby derby with the Hurricanes in Dunedin.
Kick-off is at 08:35 (SA time).
There are six alterations to the side which lost to the Blues in Auckland in Round Six with four changes made to the backline and two up front.
In the backline, Matt Faddes replaces the injured Waisake Naholo on the right wing while Richard Buckman and Teihorangi Walden come in for Patelesio Tomkinson and Thomas Umaga-Jensen to form a new centre combination.
With All Blacks scrumhalf Aaron Smith also injured, Kayne Hammington will start in the No 9 in the final change to the backs.
Up front, James Lentjes takes over from Dillon Hunt on the openside flank while Josh Dickson is preferred to Pari Pari Parkinson at lock.
Teams:
Highlanders
15
Ben Smith (co-captain), 14 Matt Faddes, 13 Richard Buckman, 12
Teihorangi Walden, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Marty Banks, 9 Kayne Hammington, 8
Luke Whitelock (co-captain), 7 James Lentjes, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Tom
Franklin, 4 Josh Dickson, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Liam Coltman, 1
Ayden Johnstone
Substitutes: 16 Ash
Dixon, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Jackson Hemopo, 20
Elliot Dixon, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 Rob Thompson
Hurricanes
15 Chase Tiatia, 14 Wes Goosen, 13 Jordie Barrett, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara (captain), 8 Reed Prinsep, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Vaea Fifita, 5 Kane Le'aupepe, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Ben May, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Fraser Armstrong
Substitutes: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Liam Mitchell, 21 Du'Plessis Kirifi, 22 Finlay Christie, 23 Matt Proctor