Chiefs openside Sam Cane is back to co-captain his Super Rugby side in one of five squad changes to face the unbeaten Hurricanes in Hamilton.
Cane, 25, has been recuperating from an ankle injury suffered for the All Blacks in November against Ireland, and has sat out the first two weeks of Super Rugby.
He will face All Blacks teammate Ardie Savea in a mouth-watering clash that might go some way to deciding the first-choice Test openside for this year's British and Irish Lions tour.
Elsewhere, loose forward Mitchell Brown has been surprisingly selected at blindside flanker, replacing the rested Liam Messam.
There are three changes to the backline with Anton Lienert-Brown shifting to inside centre, Tim Nanai-Williams at outside centre and Toni Pulu on the right edge.
In-form winger James Lowe will again start on the left flank for his first game since announcing his departure to Leinster at the end of 2017.
Hooker Sabastian Siataga, 24, could also make his Super Rugby debut off the bench, while Lachlan Boshier gets the nod over Mitch Karpik as cover for Cane.
Veteran Stephen Donald could make his first appearance of the season after a head knock in Japanese rugby for Suntory Sungoliath.
The match will be the first meeting between the two sides since July's semi-final in Wellington, won by a Beauden Barrett-inspired Hurricanes 25-9.
CHIEFS: Damian McKenzie, Toni Pulu, Tim Nanai-Williams, Anton Lienert-Brown, James Lowe, Aaron Cruden (co-capt), Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Michael Leitch, Sam Cane (co-capt), Mitchell Brown, Brodie Retallick, Dominic Bird, Nepo Laulala, Hika Elliot, Kane Hames. Res: Sebastian Siataga, Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, Atu Moli, Taleni Seu, Lachlan Boshier, Jonathan Taumateine, Stephen Donald, Shaun Stevenson.
Share
