Highlanders' Test stars sidelined
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph will face another Super Rugby pre-season outing without his Test stars.
Joseph named a 28-man squad to take on the Brumbies in Wagga Wagga on Saturday.
The squad features most of the players who missed last week's 29-26 pre-season win over the Crusaders.
Internationals Ben Smith, Aaron Smith, Malakai Fekitoa and Fumiaki Tanaka are all still unavailable at this stage.
Also sidelined are the injured trio of Richard Buckman, Ash Dixon and Marty Banks yet to play.
Highlanders: 15 Trent Renata, 14 Patrick Osborne, 13 Shaun Treeby, 12 Jason Emery, 11 Waisake Naholo, 10 Hayden Parker, 9 Scott Eade, 8 Nasi Manu (captain), 7 Shane Christie, 6 Gareth Evans, 5 Joe Wheeler, 4 Alex Ainley, 3 Ma'afu Fia, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Brendon Edmonds.
Replacements – from: Sam Anderson-Heather, Josh Hohneck, Ross Geldenhuys, Mark Reddish, Joe Latta, Dan Pryor , John Hardie, Josh Renton, Lima Sopoaga, Teihorangi Walden, Michael Collins, Ryan Tongia.
Date: Saturday, January 31
Venue: McDonald's Park, Wagga Wagga
Kick-off: 19.00 (21.00 NZ time; 08.00 GMT)
Referee: Matt O'Brien (Australia)
Assistant referees: Michael Hogan, James Morris
