There is also just one change on the bench, too, with prop Daniel Lienert-Brown returning in place of Josh Bartlett.
Highlanders: 1. Ethan de Groot (cc) 2. Jack Taylor 3. Saula Ma’u 4. Fabian Holland 5. Tai Cribb 6. Te Kamaka Howden 7. Veveni Lasaqa 8. Sean Withy 9. Folau Fakatava 10. Cam Millar 11. Taniela Filimone 12. Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc) 13. Tanielu Tele’a 14. Jonah Lowe 15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.
Bench: 16. Soane Vikena 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown 18. Sefo Kautai 19. Will Stodart 20. Michael Loft 21. Adam Lennox 22. Cam Millar 23. Thomas Umaga-Jensen.
Unavailable: Caleb Tangitau (groin), Nikora Broughton (knee), Finn Hurley (quad), Hayden Michaels (hamstring), Ajay Faleafaga (broken hand), James Arscott (shoulder), Hugh Renton (groin), Jona Nareki (knee), Oliver Haig (foot), Mitch Dunshea (neck), Taine Robinson (foot).
Chiefs team to face the Highlanders
A new-look forward pack will run out for the Chiefs on Friday night as they look to clinch the top seed going into the playoffs
The front row has been swapped out, with Jared Proffit and Reuben O’Neill starting at prop and Bradley Slater in at hooker.
Josh Lord also joins the starting side at lock, while Samipeni Finau has been named at blindside flanker.
In the backline, Xavier Roe gets the start at halfback, with Etene Nanai-Seturo returning from injury on the left wing. Leroy Carter moves to the right as a result.
Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ollie Norris, George Dyer, Simon Parker and Cortez Ratima all move back to the bench, while Manasa Mataele has been named as backline cover.
Chiefs: 1. Jared Proffit 2. Bradley Slater 3. Reuben O’Neill 4. Josh Lord 5. Tupou Vaa’i 6. Samipeni Finau 7. Luke Jacobson (c) 8. Wallace Sititi 9. Xavier Roe 10. Damian McKenzie 11. Etene Nanai-Seturo 12. Quinn Tupaea 13. Daniel Rona 14. Leroy Carter 15. Shaun Stevenson.
Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho 17. Ollie Norris 18. George Dyer 19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi 20. Simon Parker 21. Cortez Ratima 22. Josh Jacomb 23. Manasa Mataele
Unavailable: Anton Lienert-Brown (collarbone), Liam Coombes-Fabling (hamstring), Fiti Sa (shoulder), Manaaki Selby-Rickit (toe), Rameka Poihipi (knee, season), Kaleb Trask (ankle), Malachi Wrampling (hamstring), Gideon Wrampling (shoulder), Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (shoulder), Emoni Narawa (lip), Sione Ahio (ankle).
Crusaders team to face the Brumbies
Coach Rob Penney has made several changes to his side this week with the playoffs on the horizon.
There are six personnel changes in the starting XV to meet the Brumbies, including the return of loose forward Ethan Blackadder.
The Crusaders’ vice-captain will line up at blindside flanker, with Antonio Shalfoon replacing Jamie Hannah at lock the only other change in the pack.
There’s plenty of movement in the backline, however.
Noah Hotham starts at halfback, Dallas McLeod and Levi Aumua make up the midfield combination, while Chay Fihaki returns on the right wing, seeing Sevu Reece move to the left.
On the bench, Tahlor Cahill replaces Quinten Strange, while Braydon Ennor dons the No 23 after starting at centre last week.
Crusaders: 1. George Bower 2. Codie Taylor 3. Tamaiti Williams 4. Scott Barrett 5. Antonio Shalfoon 6. Ethan Blackadder 7. Tom Christie 8. Christian Lio-Willie 9. Noah Hotham 10. Rivez Reihana 11. Sevu Reece 12. Dallas McLeod 13. Levi Aumua 14. Chay Fihaki 15. Johnny McNicholl.
Bench: 16. George Bell 17. Lewis Ponini 18. Seb Calder 19. Tahlor Cahill 20. Corey Kellow 21. Kyle Preston 22. James O’Connor 23. Braydon Ennor.
Unavailable: Fletcher Newell (Achilles), Kershawl Sykes-Martin (neck), Will Jordan (knee), Taha Kemara (knee, season), Dom Gardner (foot, season), Finlay Brewis (shoulder, season).
Blues team to face the Waratahs
Mark Tele’a returns on the right wing for the Blues’ must-win clash against the Waratahs.
It’s one of five changes to the most recent Blues line-up, with Vern Cotter’s side coming into the final round of the regular season fresh off a bye week.
In the forwards, Marcel Renata starts at tighthead prop, while Laghlan McWhannell joins Patrick Tuipulotu at lock and Anton Segner starts at blindside flanker.
In the backs, Finlay Christie starts at halfback, with the return of Tele’a seeing AJ Lam shift to second five-eighths.
After starting last time out, prop Angus Ta’avao and lock Josh Beehre move to the bench, while prop Jordan Lay, loose forward Adrian Choat and halfback Sam Nock join the matchday squad.
Blues: 1. Joshua Fusitu’a 2. Ricky Riccitelli 3. Marcel Renata 4. Patrick Tuipulotu 5. Laghlan McWhannell 6. Anton Segner 7. Dalton Papali’i 8. Hoskins Sotutu 9. Finlay Christie 10. Beauden Barrett 11. Caleb Clarke 12. A.J. Lam 13. Rieko Ioane 14. Mark Tele’a 15. Corey Evans.
Bench: 16. Kurt Eklund 17. Jordan Lay 18. Angus Ta’avao 19. Josh Beehre 20. Adrian Choat 21. Sam Nock 22. Harry Plummer 23. Cole Forbes.
Unavailable: Cam Christie (thumb), Stephen Perofeta (leg), Reon Paul (shoulder), Cam Suafoa (medical, season), Ofa Tu’ungafasi (neck, season), Sam Darry (shoulder, season).
Hurricanes team to face the Reds
The Hurricanes have made a handful of changes to their side this week, which includes Brett Cameron’s return to the starting line-up at first five-eighths.
Cameron gets his first start of the season after a couple of appearances from the bench, which sees Ruben Love revert to fullback, while Bailyn Sullivan returns on the right wing.
In the pack, Jacob Devery starts at hooker with Asafo Aumua out due to concussion protocols, while Hugo Plummer starts in place of Isaia Walker-Leawere (knee injury) and Devan Flanders starts at blindside flanker with Brad Shields moving to the bench.
Other moves on the bench see prop Pouri Rakete-Stones, lock Will Tucker, midfielder Jone Rova and outside back Tjay Clarke join the match-day squad.
Hurricanes: 1. Xavier Numia 2. Jacob Devery 3. Tyrel Lomax 4. Zach Gallagher 5. Hugo Plummer 6. Devan Flanders 7. Du’Plessis Kirifi (cc) 8. Peter Lakai 9. Cam Roigard 10. Brett Cameron 11. Fatafehi Fineanganofo 12. Peter Umaga-Jensen 13. Billy Proctor (cc) 14. Bailyn Sullivan 15. Ruben Love.
Bench: 16. Raymond Tuputupu 17. Pouri Rakete-Stones 18. Pasilio Tosi 19. Will Tucker 20. Brad Shields (cc) 21. Ereatara Enari 22. Jone Rova 23. Tjay Clarke.
Unavailable: Kini Naholo (knee, season), Riley Higgins (lower leg, season), Brayden Iose (lower leg, season), Siale Lauaki (ankle, season), Harry Godfrey (lower leg), Ngani Punivai (lower leg), Caleb Delany (back), Asafo Aumua (concussion), Isaia Walker-Leawere (knee).
Moana Pasifika team to face the Chiefs
Moana Pasifika coach Fa’alogo Tana Umaga has made just one change to his starting side as they look to secure their first playoff berth.
Experienced campaigner Julian Savea will move into the run-on side at second five-eighths with Danny Toala out injured, in an otherwise unchanged starting XV.
On the bench, Lotu Inisi will make his first appearance of the season, while Pepesana Patafilo joins the team as backline cover.
Moana Pasifika: 1. Tito Tuipulotu 2. Millenium Sanerivi 3. Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou 4. Tom Savage 5. Samuel Slade 6. Miracle Faiilagi 7. Ardie Savea (c) 8. Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa 9. Jonathan Taumateine 10. Patrick Pellegrini 11. Solomon Alaimalo 12. Julian Savea 13. Lalomilo Lalomilo 14. Kyren Taumoefolau 15. Tevita Ofa.
Bench: 16. Samiuela Moli 17. Abraham Pole 18. Chris Apoua 19. Allan Craig 20. Lotu Inisi 21. Melani Matavao 22. Jackson Garden-Bachop 23. Pepesana Patafilo.
Unavailable: Alamanda Motuga (shoulder), Danny Toala (hamstring), James Lay (neck), Michael Curry (neck), Neria Fomai (knee, season), Pone Fa’amausili (calf), Sama Malolo (shoulder, season), Sione Havili Talitui (Achilles), William Havili (knee).
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