Hurricanes head coach Chris Boyd has made four tweaks to his starting XV to take on the Lions in Saturday’s Super Rugby clash in Wellington.
The return of Ngani Laumape from a week’s break has seen the in-form Vince Aso move out of the 23-man matchday squad, a decision Boyd found difficult given just how well the versatile back was playing in 2018.
However, Boyd stressed that Aso would be right back in the mix as the Hurricanes negotiate a difficult few weeks before the international playing window.
Laumape’s return is the only change in the backs but there have been three made up front where prop Jeff Toomaga-Allen swaps places for Ben May.
There has been a similar switch in the loose forwards where Gareth Evans comes in for Reed Prinsep while Vaea Fifita returns to the second-row after a week off.
The only other alteration to the matchday 23 comes in the reserves with Ihaia West coming in for Jackson Garden-Bachop.
Nehe Milner-Skudder, who made a welcome return to rugby in the last quarter of last weekend’s 43-15 victory over the Sunwolves, will again come off the bench.
Saturday’s match, a repeat of the 2016 Super Rugby final, as well as last year’s semifinal, will be significant for centre Matt Proctor who will make his 50th appearance for the Hurricanes.
Hurricanes: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields (c), 5 Michael Fatialofa, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Toby Smith
Replacements: 16 James O’Reilly, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Ben May, 19 Sam Lousi, 20 Reed Prinsep, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Nehe Milner-Skudder
Date: Saturday, May 5
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 19:35 local (07:35 GMT)
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keefe (New Zealand), Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
Television match official: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
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