Waikato coach Tony Hanks has rung the changes for his side's match against Counties Manukau tomorrow but he insists it is not a case of taking the bottom side lightly.
New Zealand under-20s first five-eighths Trent Renata will make his first start for the Mooloos, replacing departed AllBlack Stephen Donald.
Renata's promotion allows Callum Bruce, who deputised for Donald earlier in the season, to remain at second five-eighths.
But elsewhere there are major changes to the team that picked up its first win of the season against Auckland last week.
Openside flanker Matt Blain will also make his first start for the province alongside recalled loose forward Failfili Lavave, who replaces Sione Lauaki at No 8.
There are also changes to the front and middle rows of the scrum. Prop Aled de Malmanche has recovered from a rib injury and hooker Ole Avei also returns to the starting line-up, while lock Kent Fife gets a start ahead of the rested Kevin ONeill.
Ankle injuries to midfielder Jackson Willison and winger Henry Speight see Dwayne Sweeney come in at centre and James Kamana start on the right wing. Halfback Malcolm Barnes is also out with a hamstring injury, replaced by Josh Sutherland.
"Call it rotation, whatever, we are definitely not taking Counties likely," Hanks said.
"Last week was a big game for our side but it was also the fifth game of the competition and some of our guys have had a pretty big workload."
The match was also a good chance to blood players such as Renata and Blain but with Waikato having struggled to subdue Counties in each of the last two seasons, Hanks was expecting another tight encounter.
