The Highlanders will have plenty of All Blacks in their backline for their final Super Rugby pre-season hit-out against the Waratahs in Queenstown.
Fullback Ben Smith, winger Waisake Naholo, centre Malakai Fekitoa, five-eighth Lima Sopoaga and half-back Aaron Smith have all been included in the starting 15 for the match on Friday.
The bench includes halfback Fumiaki Tanaka and first-five Hayden Park, back from their championship-winning efforts with Panasonic club in Japan.
Co-captain and loose forward Shane Christie is being given a rest and his place among the reserves goes to Dan Pryor, who has got over a knee injury.
Highlanders: Ben Smith (captain), Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Rob Thompson, Patrick Osborne, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Liam Squire, James Lentjes, Luke Whitelock, Joe Wheeler, Tom Franklin, Josh Hohneck, Liam Coltman, Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Reserves: Ash Dixon, Brendon Edmonds, Ross Geldenhuys, Mark Reddish, Gareth Evans, Fumiaki Tanaka, Elliot Dixon, Jason Emery, Teihorangi Walden, Matt Faddes, Hayden Parker, Dan Pryor.
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