Cape Town - Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph has shuffled his forward pack for their Super Rugby clash against the Lions in Dunedin on Saturday (08:35 SA time).
Prop Josh Hohneck and lock Tom Franklin get a break from the match-day squad, while loose forwards Shane Christie and Elliot Dixon move to the bench.
Prop Siosiua Halnukonuka will get his first start, while Alex Ainley replaces Franklin in the second row.
Luke Whitelock moves from No 8 to blindside flank, making way for Liam Squire at the back of the scrum. Dan Pryor will start at openside, giving the pack a great deal of mobility in what is expected to be a fast paced game.
In the backline, hard running midfielder Rob Thompson will make his debut for the Highlanders at inside centre and Jason Emery, who performed well against the Hurricanes last week, will again look to make impact from the bench.
All Black fullback Ben Smith will captain the side.
Teams:
Highlanders
15 Ben Smith (captain), 14 Matt Faddes, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Rob Thompson, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Liam Squire, 7 Dan Pryor, 6 Luke Whitelock, 5 Joe Wheeler, 4 Alex Ainley, 3 Siosiua Halanukonuka, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Brendon Edmonds
Substitutes: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Ross Geldenhuys, 19 Elliot Dixon, 20 Shane Christie, 21 Josh Renton, 22 Hayden Parker, 23 Jason Emery
Lions
15 Jaco Van Der Walt, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Warwick Tecklenberg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Jacques van Rooyen
Substitutes: 16 Armand Van Der Merwe, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Julian Redelinghuys, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Jacques Nel, 23 Andries Coetzee