Melbourne Rebels could benefit from All Blacks player welfare stipulations after the Highlanders overhauled their side for Friday's clash of two unbeaten Super Rugby teams.
Only five players who started last week's 36-31 victory over the Queensland Reds in Dunedin will run out again for the Highlanders in Melbourne.
Coach Aaron Mauger's hand is forced, either through injury or the requirement that he limit the game time of his Test players.
Under an agreement between New Zealand Rugby and the Kiwi Super Rugby coaches, no All Blacks player should total more than 180 minutes of play through the first three rounds.
It has resulted in fullback Ben Smith, halfback Aaron Smith, No.8 Luke Whitelock and hooker Liam Coltman being omitted completely after their involvement in wins over the Chiefs and Reds.
Hooker Ash Dixon is skipper in the absence of co-captains Ben Smith and Whitelock, while there are three bench players in line to make Super Rugby debuts - hooker Ricky Jackson, prop Josh Iosefo-Scott and halfback Folau Fakatava.
Former Blues five-eighth Bryan Gatland, the son of Wales coach Warren Gatland, will start and make his Highlanders debut. He replaces Josh Ioane, who shifts to fullback.
Elliot Dixon will start at No.8 in his first appearance of the season, with the former All Blacks loose forward having joined the Highlanders late after a club stint in Japan.
The Highlanders have only lost once in seven meetings with the Rebels, who had a bye last week after they opened their campaign with a 34-27 upset of the Brumbies in Canberra.
The last meeting between the Highlanders and Rebels came in the final round last year with a 43-37 for the hosts in Dunedin to deprive their Australian opponents a maiden appearance in the finals.
HIGHLANDERS: Josh Ioane, Waisake Naholo, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Teihorangi Walden, Josh McKay, Bryn Gatland, Kayne Hammington, Elliot Dixon, James Lentjes, Shannon Frizell, Pari Pari Parkinson, Jackson Hemopo, Siate Tokolahi, Ash Dixon (capt), Daniel Lienert-Brown. Res: Ricky Jackson, Ayden Johnstone, Josh Iosefa-Scott, Tom Franklin, Marino Mikaele Tu'u, Folau Fakatava, Patelesio Tomkinson, Marty Banks.
