Shields to lead 'Canes against Brumbies
As well as Shields being handed the captaincy in his 76th appearance for the side, the match will also mark significant milestones for Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi and Ben Lam.
Tahuriorangi makes his first Super Rugby start following three previous appearances off the bench, while Lam, who has been capped seven times with the Blues, is poised to make his Hurricanes debut after being named in the reserves.
Tahuriorangi replaces TJ Perenara, who moves to the reserves, while wing Cory Jane comes back into the team on the right wing for Wes Goosen.
In total, there are four personnel changes to the side that ran out against the Blues last weekend at Eden Park, including two in the pack where Blade Thomson and Vaea Fifita start at No.8 and lock respectively.
Thomson returns to the field eight weeks after dislocating his shoulder during the Hurricanes Round One win over the Sunwolves in Tokyo, while Fifita replaces Michael Fatialofa who suffered a knee injury at Eden Park.
The reshuffle means Ardie Savea shifts back to openside, after several weeks at the back of the scrum, and Callum Gibbins into the reserves where he is joined by lock/loose forward James Blackwell.
Friday's match will be the tenth time the Hurricanes have played at McLean Park, but the first time against the Australian Conference-leading Brumbies.
In previous matches in Napier, the Hurricanes have won six and lost three.
In total, the Hurricanes have played the Brumbies 22 times for a record of nine wins and 13 losses. The teams have played ten times on New Zealand soil, all in Wellington, splitting those matches five wins apiece.
Last time the teams met was in Canberra in the opening round of the 2016 season with the home side winning 52-10.
Hurricanes: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields (captain), 5 Vaea Fifita, 4 Mark Abbott, 3 Jeffery To'omaga-Allen, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Ben May.
Replacements: 16 Leni Apisai, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Mike Kainga, 19 James Blackwell, 20 Callum Gibbins, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Otere Black, 23 Ben Lam.
Date: Friday, April 21
Venue: McLean Park, Napier
Kick-off: 19.35 (17.35 AEST; 07.35 GMT)
Referee: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Angus Mabey (New Zealand)
TMO: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
