The Highlanders will take a re-shuffled forward pack into Friday's Super Rugby match against the Sharks at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
Joseph has made four changes to the run-on forwards following last week's 31-18 loss away to the Brumbies, while the Highlanders' three All Blacks - Aaron Smith, Ben Smith and Malakai Fekitoa - return to the field after sitting out the round.
Lock Mark Reddish returns from an ankle injury to replace Joe Wheeler, who could miss the rest of the season after injuring the medial ligaments in his right knee against the Brumbies.
Josh Hohneck returns to tighthead prop, and both blindside flanker Gareth Evans and openside partner Dan Pryor make the starting team.
The versatile Richard Buckman comes in at inside centre to cover for Shaun Treeby, who rolled an ankle last week.
Still unavailable through injury are Shane Christie (hamstring), Ross Geldenhuys (thumb), Daniel Lienert-Brown (knee), John Hardie (ankle), Hayden Parker (shoulder) and Alex Ainley (jaw).
Highlanders: Ben Smith (co-captain), Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Richard Buckman, Patrick Osborne, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Nasi Manu (co-captain), Dan Pryor, Gareth Evans, Mark Reddish, Tom Franklin, Josh Hohneck, Liam Coltman, Kane Hames. Reserves: Ash Dixon, Brendon Edmonds, Pingi Talaapitaga, Joe Latta, Elliot Dixon, Fumiaki Tanaka, Marty Banks, Jason Emery.
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