Super Rugby Pacific is sticking with what works by revealing their team lists at 4pm on Wednesday.
Each Wednesday you will find the latest squad news ahead of the weekend’s rugby - who is in, who is out and when all the footy is going ahead.
Exciting Otago prospect Lucas Casey will make his Super Rugby Pacific debut, after being named to start at No 8 for the season opener against the Crusaders in Dunedin.
The 22-year-old is the lone player making his Super Rugby debut, while prop Angus Ta’avao, will make his club debut at prop, while Reesjan Pasitoa will come off the bench, having switched from the Brumbies.
Sean Withy and Timoci Tavatavanawai, playing his 50th Super Rugby Pacific game, will co-captain the side.
The Highlanders have also confirmed lock Fabian Holland will the entire season after dislocating his shoulder in last week’s pre-season clash.
Highlanders: 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Jack Taylor, 3. Angus Ta’avao, 4. Oliver Haig, 5. Mitch Dunshea, 6. Te Kamaka Howden, 7. Sean Withy, 8. Lucas Casey, 9. Folau Fakatava, 10. Cameron Millar, 11. Jona Nareki, 12. Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc) 13. Jonah Lowe, 14. Caleb Tangitau, 15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.
Bench: 16. Henry Bell, 17. Josh Bartlett, 18. Rohan Wingham, 19. Will Stodart, 20. Veveni Lasaqa, 21. Adam Lennox, 22. Reesjan Pasitoar, 23. Tanielu Tele’a.
Unavailable due to injury: Fabian Holland (shoulder – season), Saula Ma’u (shoulder - eight weeks), Xavier Tito-Harris (hamstring - two weeks), Stanley Solomon (shoulder - two weeks), Finn Hurley (foot - five weeks), Andrew Knewstubb (quad - two weeks). Season Ending: Dylan Pledger (ACL).
The Crusaders will have 11 All Blacks on deck as they begin their title defence against the Highlanders.
Eight of those are in the starting side including the return of Leicester Faingaʻanuku who has been named on the left wing as part of a formidable back-three alongside Sevu Reece and Chay Fihaki, while Fletcher Newell, Codie Taylor and Will Jordan will provide plenty of impact.
Sixteen of the 23 played in last year’s grand final triumph over the Chiefs.
Crusaders: 1. Finlay Brewis, 2. George Bell, 3. Seb Calder, 4. Antonio Shalfoon, 5. Jamie Hannah, 6. Dom Gardiner, 7. Ethan Blackadder, 8. Christian Lio-Willie 9. Noah Hotham 10. Rivez Reihana 11. Leicester Faingaʻanuku, 12. David Havili (c) 13. Braydon Ennor 14. Sevu Reece 15. Chay Fihaki.
Bench: 16. Codie Taylor, 17. George Bower, 18. Fletcher Newell, 19. Taylor Cahill, 20. Corey Kellow, 21. Kyle Preston, 22. Taha Kemara, 23. Will Jordan.
Unavailable: Macca Springer (quad - two weeks), Kershawl Sykes-Martin (hip - two weeks), Johnny McNicholl (hamstring - three weeks), Liam Jack, Maloni Kunawave (both hamstring - eight weeks) Cooper Roberts (stress fracture - eight weeks) Cullen Grace (knee - TBC).
Ngani Laumape will play his first Super Rugby match since 2021 after being named to start in the midfield for the clash in Lautoka.
He’s one of four debutants in the side, with Denzel Samoa, Dominic Ropeti and Glen Vaihu named to come off the bench.
William Havili will become the first player to feature 50 times for Moana Pasifika.
Moana Pasifika: 1. Tito Tuipulotu, 2. Millenium Sanerivi, 3. Chris Apoua, 4. Tom Savage 5. Allan Craig, 6. Miracle Faiilagi (c). 7. Semisi Paea, 8. Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 9. Jonathan Taumateine 10. Patrick Pellegrini, 11. Solomon Alaimalo, 12. Ngani Laumape, 13. Lalomilo Lalomilo, 14. Tevita Ofa, 15. William Havili.
Bench: 16. Samiuela Moli, 17. Abraham Pole, 18. Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou, 19. Ofa Tauatevalu, 20. Dominic Ropeti, 21. Siaosi Nginingini, 22. Denzel Samoa, 23. Glen Vaihu.
All Blacks duo Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Stephen Perofeta will make their long awaited Super Rugby Pacific returns after being named in Vern Cotter’s starting side.
Tu’ungafasi is making his comeback from neck surgery last March, while Perofeta has been sidelined with calf issues since last May.
Loose forward Torian Barnes has emerged as a shock bolter after being named to make his Super Rugby Pacific debut at blindside flanker, where he will team up with captain Dalton Papali’i and Hoskins Sotutu.
Hooker Bradley Slater will make his club debut at hooker while winger Codemeru Vai is in line for his first Super Rugby Pacific match off the bench.
Regular captain Patrick Tuipulotu remains sidelined, while Beauden Barrett continues his high-performance return to play schedule.
Blues: 1. Joshua Fusitu’a, 2. Bradley Slater, 3. Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 4. Sam Darry, 5. Josh Beehre, 6. Torian Barnes, 7. Dalton Papali’i (c), 8. Hoskins Sotutu 9. Finlay Christie 10. Stephen Perofeta, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Pita Ahki, 13. AJ Lam, 14. Cole Forbes, 15. Zarn Sullivan.
Bench: 16. James Mullan, 17. Mason Tupaea, 18. Marcel Renata, 19. Laghlan McWhannell, 20. Anton Segner, 21. Sam Nock, 22. Xavi Taele, 23. Codemeru Vai.
Unavailable: Cameron Christie (knee - season), Corey Evans (ankle), Jordan Lay (concussion), Payton Spencer (concussion), Patrick Tuipulotu (shoulder), Malachi Wrampling (concussion).
New head coach Jono Gibbes has named four debutants for the Chiefs, highlighted by the inclusion of Kyren Taumoefolau on the right wing.
Taumoefolau joined the Chiefs after three years at Moana Pasifika, while Kyle Brown, Benet Kumeroa and Tepaea Cook-Savage will make their Super Rugby Pacific debuts from the bench.
The Chiefs have named several of their All Blacks with Samisoni Taukei’aho, Josh Lord, Tupou Vaa’i, Jacobson and Quinn Tupaea in the starting side, while Samipeni Finau and Cortez Ratima are on the bench.
Damian McKenzie was not considered after the birth of his first child last week.
Chiefs: 1. Jared Proffit, 2. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3. George Dyer, 4. Josh Lord, 5. Tupou Vaa’i (vc), 6. Kaylum Bosher, 7. Jahrome Brown, 8. Luke Jacobson (c), 9. Xavier Roe, 10. Josh Jacomb, 11. Liam Coombes-Fabling, 12. Quinn Tupaea (vc), 13. Daniel Rona, 14. Kyren Taumoefolau, 15. Etene Nanai-Seturo.
Bench: 16. Tyrone Thompson, 17. Benet Kumeroa, 18. Reuben O’Neill, 19. Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20. Samipeni Finau, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Tepaea Cook-Savage, 23. Kyle Brown.
Unavailable: Brodie McAlister (broken hand - four weeks), Lalakai Foketi (knee - two weeks), Sione Ahio (ankle sprain - TBC), Issac Hutchinson (knee - eight weeks).