Canterbury have made two changes to the side that beat Otago 29-16 last weekend for Saturday's ITM Cup premiership final against Waikato in Hamilton.
The Red and Blacks are chasing their fourth consecutive title and the game is also a rematch of last year's final.
Telusa Veainu replaces Johnny McNichollon the right wing and Sean Maitland replaces Tom Taylor at fullback after being rested for the Otago match due to a foot injury. Paul Ngauamo will play his blazer game if he takes to the field on Saturday.
"It's been a very unique year,'' Canterbury coach Rob Penney said. "Tabs (assistant coach Tabai Matson) and I, together with the rest of our management team, cannot speak highly enough of this young group of players and their achievement in reaching this year's ITM Cup final.
"The challenges have been many and varied as we all know. For this group to have to now travel to Hamilton and confront the tournament leaders and the form team Waikato on their home soil, will be a daunting task. We will be giving it our best shot though and we will try to represent Canterbury with a performance that it deserves and demands''
Canterbury team: Wyatt Crockett, Ben Funnell, Nepo Laulala, Luke Romano, Ash Parker, George Whitelock (c), Matt Todd, Nasi Manu, Willi Heinz, Tyler Bleyendaal, Patrick Osborne, Ryan Crotty, Robbie Fruean, Telusa Veainu, Sean Maitland. Reserves: Paul Ngauamo, Joe Moody, Luke Katene, Brendon O'Connor, Takerei Norton, Tom Taylor, Johnny McNicholl, Andrew Olorenshaw.
