Highlanders Coach Aaron Mauger has made one change to his team for their 2018 Super Rugby season opener at the Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, on Friday.
The Blues played the Crusaders in the Farmlands Cup final preseason game last Thursday and Mauger has retained all but one of the team that did duty then.
Midfielder Teihorangi Walden earns a start, while versatile outside back Matt Faddes moves to the reserves.
In the forwards, only two specialist locks have been selected, while loose forwards Dan Pryor and Elliot Dixon have both been included on the bench.
Prop Tyrel Lomax is the only player listed who will make his debut for the Highlanders if he takes the field.
Mauger is looking forward to the encounter.
“This game is an opportunity for the players to put a performance on the park that we and our supporters can be proud of. It’s great we have the opening match at our home ground for the Gordon Hunter trophy. It gives us a really good opportunity to connect with our people.”
Highlanders team: 15 Ben Smith (captain), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Dillon Hunt, 6 Liam Squire, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Ash Dixon (c), 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Replacements: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Dan Pryor, 20 Elliot Dixon, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Fletcher Smith, 23 Matt Faddes
