KEY POINTS:
All Black prop Neemia Tialata makes a timely return to the Hurricanes for their second round Super 14 rugby match against the Queensland Reds in Wellington tonight.
Tialata, who underwent minor surgery in the off-season, is rated match fit and replaces Tim Fairbrother who started in last Saturday's
20-3 loss to the Waratahs in Sydney.
"We are pleased with the way Tim played against the Waratahs," said Hurricanes assistant coach Aussie McLean.
"[Being replaced by Tialata] is no reflection on Tim - you usually play your All Blacks if they are available."
Although there will be interest in how Tialata will handle the faster pace of the experimental laws variations (ELVs) game, his return means the Hurricanes will have increased firepower in the front row to take on the Reds' meaty trio of Rodney Blake, Stephen Moore and Greg Holmes.
At lock, Jeremy Thrush has made way for Craig Clark with McLean explaining that a more orthodox lock was needed to partner Jason Eaton.
"Jeremy and Jason are similar ... they are mobile and probably we needed one of our locks to be conventional because Jason is quite loose and runs with the ball a lot.
"Jeremy will probably make a strong impact off the bench because of what he can do. Craig is probably a little bit different, a more traditional type lock."
In the backs, there has been one injury-enforced change with Tane Tu'ipulotu replacing an injured Tamati Ellison at second five-eighths.
Ellison, who picked up a deep bruise on a thigh in the match against the Waratahs, is expected to be out for just a week.
The Reds have not won in Wellington in 10 years and bring a Wallaby-laden team which will meet an equally impressive Hurricanes containing 10 current and former All Blacks.
" ... the Reds also have Clinton Schifcofske, one of the more successful league converts who is also a good goalkicker - they are strong all round," McLean said.
McLean expected play under the ELVs to continue to evolve.
"Rugby is one of the few sports where they continue to tinker with the laws on a regular basis and because they do that, it means there is a lot of room for tactical strategies.
"I don't think anyone has settled on anything - to us there some things that are obvious but there are other things we're trying.
"The basics of the game haven't changed - making good attack from first phase is really important.
"Perhaps the game is a little bit faster and the ball gets turned over a little bit more quickly and a little bit more often.
"Defensive lines are probably stronger across the field and that's probably one reason why we haven't had the number of points scored that we thought we would.
"We're all searching ways of breaking down defences and getting our defences to destabilise attacks."
- NZPA
