Fekitoa to miss decider
The Highlanders will go into their decisive Super Rugby encounter with the Blues in Auckland on Friday without the services of star All Black midfielder Malakai Fekitoa.
Fekitoa has failed to recover from a groin injury and will miss the last round of league action.
Coach Jamie Joseph is confident Fekitoa will be available for the play-offs next week.
The All Black midfielder is one of several players unavailable due to injury.
Shane Christie (hamstring), Hayden Parker (shoulder), Joe Wheeler (knee), Kane Hames (knee), Mark Reddish (hand) and Nasi Manu (shoulder) are all on the Highlanders' extensive injury list.
Joseph made a raft of changes from the team that suffered a hiding at the hands of the Hurricanes last week.
The front row is completely changed and features Daniel Lienert-Brown, in his first run-on game for the season, Joe Latta, who will also have his first game in the starting fifteen.
In the back row Elliot Dixon moves to blindside flank, Dan Pryor returns at No.8 and Gareth Evans moves to the bench.
Young Otago lock Jackson Hemopo comes into the playing 23 for the injured Tom Franklin, in what will be his debut for the Highlanders.
In the backs Shaun Treeby will play his 50th game for the franchise and he will partner the versatile Richard Buckman in the centre – in the wake of Fekitoa's failure to recover from his groin injury.
All Blacks Ben and Aaron Smith return, as does form wing Patrick Osborne – reuniting the lethal back three of Smith, Osborne and Waisake Naholo.
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (captain), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Richard Buckman, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Dan Pryor, 7 John Hardie, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Joe Latta, 4 Alex Ainley, 3 Josh Hohneck, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Brendon Edmonds, 18 Ross Geldenhuys, 19 Jackson Hemopo, 20 Gareth Evans, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Marty Banks, 23 Kurt Baker.
Date: Friday, June 12
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Shane McDermott (New Zealand), Angus Mabey (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
