SHANE HURNDELL Captain Danny Lee has been given the all clear and will start in the Hawke's Bay Magpies Air New Zealand Cup rugby opener against Southland in Invercargill on Sunday.
The former All Black halfback received a suspected broken jaw in the Kelt Capital Magpies final Cup rehearsal -
a 17-12 win against Bay of Plenty in Napier on July 13. Despite being cleared of the injury later that night it was later revealed his cheek bone had a crack.
However, Lee was happy to report this week the injury had recovered in time.
"There's still a bruise around the eye socket but nothing more than that," said Magpies coach Peter Russell.
Apart from last year's captain, lock Lua Lokotui, who is unavailable because of his court case on Monday, and prop Tom Symes, hooker Danny Logan and fullback Israel Dagg, who are all playing club rugby on Saturday after recent injury spells, all of Russell's Cup squad was available for selection.
Russell will start the same loose forward trio which shone in the 27-7 win against Taranaki earlier this month with former Highlander Grant Webb at No.8, last season's Tasman Makos MVP George Naoupu at blindside flanker and former Magpies captain Michael Johnson on the openside.
"With Karl (Lowe) coming off the bench I'm confident there will be plenty of solid defence," said Russell, who is more than happy with his side's buildup to the match which included a four-day camp in Waitomo last week.
* Magpies team: Ben Batger; Jason Kupa, Jason Shoemark, Zac Guildford; Sam Giddens, Matt Berquist; Danny Lee (captain); Grant Webb; Michael Johnson, Bryn Evans, Matt Egan, George Naoupu; Clint Newland, Hika Elliot, Sona Taumalolo.
Substitutes: Forwards, Jamie Muir, Christian Pera, Will Crutchley, Karl Lowe; backs, Chris Eaton, Aayden Clarke, Justin Wilson.
