Coltman in for trans-Tasman trip
Hooker Liam Coltman has recovered from a calf strain and will make his return for the Highlanders in their Super Rugby match against the Reds in Brisbane.
Coltman, an uncapped member of the All Blacks training squad, missed last weekend's nail-biting 30-32 defeat to the Crusaders.
His inclusion for the trans-Tasman trip is one of three changes to the starting line-up to face the bottom-of-the-table Reds on Friday.
Ma'afu Fia comes in at tighthead prop for Chris King, while Gareth Evans takes over at blindside flank from Elliot Dixon.
The Highlanders sit sixth on the table after four successive matches in which the margin was two points or fewer.
They won two and lost two and will be looking for a bonus point win against a weakened Reds side to keep their play-off hopes alive ahead of the June break.
The Reds, who are coming off a bye, are on a six-game losing streak.
Following Friday's game the players selected for national teams will depart to join those teams and the remainder of the squad will disassemble for a week, before returning to prepare for the Highlanders versus New Zealand Barbarians game in Invercargill on Friday, June 20.
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (co-captain), 14 Richard Buckman, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu (co-captain), 7 Shane Christie, 6 Gareth Evans, 5 Joe Wheeler, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Ma'afu Fia, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Kane Hames.
Replacements: 16 Ged Robinson, 17 Matias Diaz, 18 Chris King, 19 Tom Franklin, 20 Elliot Dixon, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Hayden Parker, 23 Phil Burleigh.
Date: Friday, May 30
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 19.40 (09.40 GMT; 21.40 NZ time)
Referee: Andrew Lees (Australia)
Assistant referees: Rohan Hoffmann (Australia), Graham Cooper (Australia)
TMO: Steve Leszczynski (Australia)
