An injury to centre Matt Proctor has forced the Hurricanes to change their midfield for their match against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday.
Ngani Laumape will start at second‑five, with Willis Halaholo moving out one place to centre following the hamstring injury to Proctor, suffered in the team's victory over the Waratahs in Sydney.
Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd says he was comfortable the combination would perform well against the Crusaders.
The Hurricanes have already qualified for the Super Rugby playoffs and with a bonus point win over the Crusaders could still win the New Zealand conference and earn a home quarter‑final at Westpac Stadium next weekend.
However, win or lose, Boyd will not immediately know where his team are heading for the playoffs, or whom they are playing, with their fate dependent on other results.
The final playoff schedule will not be known until after the Lions play the Jaguares on Sunday in the final match of the Super Rugby regular season.
Eight teams will play in the Super Rugby quarter finals next week.
The top team from each conference will make the top four teams while the remaining four teams will come as the best qualifiers.
The Hurricanes will take on the Crusaders at 5.15pm Saturday while the Highlanders will face the Chiefs at 7.35pm.
Source: nzherald.com
