Hurricanes Super Rugby coach Mark Hammett overlooked a handful of other candidates by naming Matt Proctor at fullback in the only definite change to their starting side to face the Blues in Auckland.
Usually a winger, Proctor will wear No.15 for the fifth-placed Hurricanes on Saturday in place of Andre Taylor, who injured an ankle in last weekend's 45-8 thumping of the Chiefs in Wellington.
Another potential change is at prop, where Ben Franks is in doubt with a groin niggle. All Blacks loosehead Franks is bracketed with Reggie Goodes.
Hammett's other options to replace the in-form Taylor were to shift All Blacks winger Cory Jane to fullback, where he began his Super Rugby career, or recall Marty Banks, who started three games at the back earlier this season.
There was also the prospect of shifting five-eighth Beauden Barrett, as happened several times last year, but Hammett elected to stick closely to the combination which was so effective in dismantling the Chiefs.
Barrett will play his 50th game for the Hurricanes and says it is important not to get carried away with last week's result if they are to beat a 10th-placed Blues team coming off two losses.
"That's our challenge - in the past, we may have struggled after a really good win.
"The Blues are wounded up there so they'll be fighting, no doubt."
Uncertainty surrounds the make-up of the Hurricanes' bench, where hookers Motu Matu'u and Ash Dixon are both under injury clouds.
The versatile Goodes will also cover them, with Mike Kainga and Brendon Edmonds named as back-ups if required.
Hurricanes: Andre Taylor, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith (capt), Alapati Leiua, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Victor Vito, Jack Lam, Faifili Levave, James Broadhurst, Jeremy Thrush, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Dane Coles, Ben Franks/Reggie Goodes. Res: Ash Dixon/Motu Matu'u/Goodes/Mike Kainga, Chris Eves, Goodes/Brendon Edmonds, Brad Shields, Ardie Savea, Chris Smylie, Tim Bateman, James Marshall.
Share
