Former All Blacks hooker Corey Flynn makes his first appearance in Canterbury's starting line-up when he heads to his old province Southland in final round national provincial rugby action tomorrow night.
Flynn, who broke his arm playing the Super 14 semifinal against the Hurricanes in May, has playedCanterbury's last two matches off the bench.
He replaces Ti'i Paulo in the front row for a match that will see Canterbury finish runner-up to Wellington in the regular season regardless of the result at Invercargill's Rugby Park.
In other changes from the side that comfortably beat Hawkes Bay 31-7 last Saturday, Colin Slade replaces first five-eighths Stephen Brett who limped off with a quadriceps injury, while Hamish Gard starts ahead of regular second five-eighths Tim Bateman.
Coach Rob Penney has also taken the opportunity to rest some of his front line pack with No 8 Mose Tuiali'i named on the bench and prop Wyatt Crockett spared the trip south, giving Peter Borlase a rare start at loosehead.
Captain Kieran Read fills in for Tuiali'i, Hayden Hopgood starts on the blindside and George Whitelock at openside.
Penney also has the luxury of including All Black prop Greg Somerville among the reserves while centre Casey Laulala makes the match-day squad for the first time this season after breaking his arm.
Despite the changes, Penney insisted Canterbury were not taking confirmed quarter-finalists Southland lightly. "You only have to look at their narrow loss in the Shield game against Auckland (13-9) to see they are a tough nut to crack."
