Smith to be unleashed on Sharks
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph has wasted no time in recalling one of his main strike forces to the team to take on the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.
The preliminary qualifier will be the Highlanders' second visit to the Shark Tank for 2014 and the team will be hoping to produce another stellar performance like the Round 11 match-up that saw the Highlanders win 34-18.
Co-Captain Ben Smith returns to the starting line-up, after illness saw him miss the final regular season clash against the Crusaders in Christchurch last weekend.
There are two changes to the forward pack – Ged Robinson to start at No.2 and Jarrad Hoeata at No.4 – which sees Tom Franklin move to the bench.
Hoeata travelled from Dunedin at the weekend to join the team in Auckland, before they flew out to Sydney and then on to South Africa.
In the backline Lima Sopoaga has been recalled to the playmaker position of flyhalf and will be partnering with Phil Burleigh at inside centre.
Trent Renata moves back to the bench as utility cover.
The Highlanders have had a tough road to the play-offs after playing the top two teams in the competition in consecutive weeks on the road, but are feeling good and looking forward to their first play-off game since 2002.
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (co-captain), 14 Richard Buckman, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Phil Burleigh, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu (co-captain), 7 Shane Christie, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Joe Wheeler, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Chris King, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 Kane Hames.
Replacements: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Matias Diaz, 18 JP Koen, 19 Josh Bekhuis, 20 Tom Franklin, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Trent Renata, 23 Gareth Evans.
Date: Saturday, July 19
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 17.05 (03.05, Sunday, July 20 NZT; 01.05, Sunday, July 20 AEST, 15.05 GMT)
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
