Jona Nareki will start for the Highlanders when they face the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby Aotearoa on Sunday.
Coach Aaron Mauger has also been forced into making one other major change from the team that lost to the Crusaders, with lock Josh Dickson ruled out for the season with a broken leg.
According to stats provider Opta, 18 of the past 22 Super Rugby clashes between the Hurricanes and Highlanders have been decided by a margin of seven points or fewer, including their past two meetings.
Other top players that will start for the Highlanders are Aaron Smith, Mitch Hunt, Shannon Frizell, Ash Dixon and Pari Pari Parkinson.
The Highlanders will face the Hurricanes at 3.35pm Sunday while the Crusaders face the Blues at 7.05pm tomorrow.
[Source: Stuff.Co]
