Malakai Fekitoa. Photo / Getty
All Black centre Malakai Fekitoa has been ruled out of the Highlanders team to play the Blues tomorrow night.
Fekitoa's groin injury has not recovered sufficiently for coach Jamie Joseph to be confident the game-breaker can last the distance at Eden Park.
In his absence, Richard Buckman moves to centre
and Shaun Treeby marks his 50th appearance for the Highlanders with a start at second five-eighth.
The Highlanders are bolstered by the return of All Black backs Aaron Smith and Ben Smith, and winger Patrick Osborne also returns, helping alleviate the loss of Fekitoa.
In the forwards, there is a completely different front row.
Unheralded prop Daniel Lienert-Brown earns his first start of the season next to Liam Coltman and Josh Hohneck.
