Rugby: Highlanders will feel at home in Napier

Tim Nanai-Williams of the Chiefs runs into the tackle of Ash Dixon of the Highlanders during the round four Super Rugby match between the Chiefs and the Highlanders. Photo / Getty Images.

Five Highlanders will feel right at home when they travel to Napier to play the Hurricanes
tomorrow night.

A rejigged Highlanders starting XV features no fewer than five players - Ash Dixon, Brendon Edmonds, Gareth Evans, Richard Buckman and Ryan Tongia - who play for Hawkes Bay in the ITM Cup.

Dixon, who replaces Liam Coltman at hooker, also has the honour of captaining the side in the absence of regular leaders Nasi Manu (injured) and Ben Smith (rested).

As signalled, coach Jamie Joseph has rested his All Black trio for a second week.

Marty Banks replaces Ben Smith at fullback, Fumiaki Tanaka replaces Aaron Smith at
halfback, and Jason Emery gets a rare start in place of Malakai Fekitoa at centre.

In other changes, new father Elliot Dixon moves to No 8, Gareth Evans goes to the blindside flank, and Tongia replaces Patrick Osborne, who has a calf injury.

The bench features a couple of fresh faces.

Southland utility Scott Eade is poised to make his Super rugby debut, and Kurt Baker is set for just his second appearance of the season.

Highlanders: Marty Banks, Waisake Naholo, Jason Emery, Richard Buckman, Ryan Tongia,
Lima Sopoaga, Fumiaki Tanaka, Elliot Dixon, John Hardie, Gareth Evans, Tom Franklin, Alex Ainley, Josh Hohneck, Ash Dixon (captain), Brendon Edmonds. Reserves: Liam Coltman, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Ross Geldenhuys, Joe Latta, Dan Pryor, Scott Eade, Shaun Treeby, Kurt Baker.