Burgess holds onto starting role
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Nic Stirzaker's injury sees Luke Burgess retain the No.9 jersey for the Rebels clash with the Hurricanes while Ben Meehan takes the spot on the bench.
Ben Meehan returns to the matchday 23 for the first time since Round Six in one of two changes made by Head Coach Tony McGahan.
Pat Leafa, who scored his first try for the Club in the 16-22 defeat to the Sharks last Friday, replaces Shota Horie in the starting lineup.
McGahan was disappointed to see Stirzaker, whose time on the sideline is yet to be determined, miss out after being injured earlier in the season as well.
"It's really unfortunate for Nic, who has been terrific for us since he came back from his first ankle injury," McGahan said.
"He's certainly added a lot on and off the field, and was heading in a strong direction for us, so it's a shame.
"Luke has been terrific this season and we're really happy with him, and Benny Meehan comes in and we're looking for him to continue his really strong form off the bench from earlier this season."
Leafa has worked his way back into the starting lineup, and McGahan was pleased to reward the young hooker with a return to the action right from the first minute.
"Pat started the season really well for us, and then Shota got in there through weight of performance," McGahan explained.
"Pat's work off the bench has really given him an opportunity to start now, in what is a really competitive positions, so we're looking for him to turn his impact off the bench into a starting position this week.
"He's really looking forward to the opportunity."
McGahan has been preparing to face up against a side chock-full of All Blacks and posing multiple threats, with the introduction of Ardie Savea in place of Jack Lam to the starting lineup one of their two changes.
"Jack Lam has been absolutely fantastic for the Hurricanes this year, and to have Savea underneath him really shows the depth of their squad," he said.
"Savea's really strong on the footy, really strong on the carry and a great link between the forwards and backs; he's a player we'll be paying plenty of respect, as with the entire pack."
Rebels: 15 Jason Woodward, 14 Male Sau, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Mitch Inman, 11 Tom English, 10 Bryce Hegarty, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Scott Higginbotham (captain), 7 Scott Fuglistaller, 6 Colby Fainga'a, 5 Luke Jones, 4 Cadeyrn Neville, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Pat Leafa, 1 Cruze Ah-Nau.
Replacements: 16 Shota Horie, 17 Max Lahiff, 18 Paul Alo-Emilie, 19 Hugh Pyle, 20 Sean McMahon, 21 Ben Meehan, 22 Tom Kingston, 23 Angus Roberts.
Date: Friday, May 9
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-off: 19.40 (09.40 GMT; 21.40 NZ time)
Referee: Matt O'Brien (Australia)
Assistant referees: Steve Walsh (Australia), Ed Martin (Australia)
TMO: Peter Marshall (Australia)
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