Key stars return for Highlanders
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph welcomed back several key players for the all-important Super Rugby preliminary play-off match against the Chiefs in Dunedin on Saturday.
The explosive attack of the Highlanders will be at full strength, with powerful All Black centre Malakai Fekitoa having passed a fitness test and named at outside centre.
Fekitoa, who missed the last match of the regular season with a groin problem, comes back into a backline which also boasts All Blacks Aaron and Ben Smith, as well as free-scoring wings Waisake Naholo and Patrick Osborne.
Joseph also welcomes back two key forwards.
Co-captain Nasi Manu and the experienced Mark Reddish make a timely return from injury to bolster the pack.
Manu starts at No.8, while the versatile Dan Pryor – who has played in all three back row position this season – moves to the openside flank, replacing the injured John Hardie.
In the front row Daniel Lienert-Brown makes way for Brendon Edmonds.
The game will be played in front of a capacity crowd with the covered Forsyth Barr Stadium providing the ideal setting for what will be the biggest game for the franchise since 1999.
The Highlanders will be looking for their first victory in post-season play-offs since 1999, when they beat the Stormers in Cape Town, to move on to a semifinal against the Hurricanes in Wellington or the Waratahs in Sydney.
There are still a few players unavailable due to injury – Shane Christie (hamstring), Joe Wheeler (knee), Kane Hames (knee) John Hardie (Rib)
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (co-captain), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Richard Buckman, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu (co-captain), 7 Dan Pryor, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Mark Reddish, 4 Alex Ainley, 3 Josh Hohneck, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Brendon Edmonds.
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Ross Geldenhuys, 19 Joe Latta, 20 Gareth Evans, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Marty Banks, 23 Shaun Treeby.
Date: Saturday, June 20
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT)
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Nick Briant (New Zealand), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
TMO: Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)
