Highlanders head coach Tony Brown has named a squad that contains five debutants to take on the Chiefs at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Friday.
Tevita Li and Siate Tokolahi make the starting side while Adrian Smith, Guy Millar and Kayne Hammington could earn debuts from the bench.
Brown will start all of his All Blacks apart from Elliot Dixon, who will make his impact off the bench, with Matt Faddes also a strong option.
“The recent games against the Chiefs have been cracking games and we expect nothing less this week, the guys are really looking forward to getting out in front of our home fans,” said Brown, who is without Marty Banks, Teihorangi Walden, Luke Whitelock, Shane Christie, Ash Dixon , Dan Pryor, Aki Seiuli and Greg Pleasants-Tate due to injury.
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (c), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Rob Thompson, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Liam Squire, 7 James Lentjes, 6 Gareth Evans, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Alex Ainley, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown
Replacements: 16 Adrian Smith, 17 Craig Millar, 18 Guy Millar, 19 Jackson Hemopo, 20 Elliot Dixon, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Fletcher Smith, 23 Matt Faddes
Date: Friday, February 24
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick-off: 19:35 local (08:35 GMT)
Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand), Jamie Nutbrown (New Zealand)
TMO: Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)
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