The Hurricanes will start debutant Orbyn Leger at first-five against the Chiefs, with Jackson Garden-Bachop unavailable due to the injury sustained against the Crusaders.
24-year-old Leger has gained experience at Mitre 10 Cup level playing for Counties Manukau since 2017. He has also previously played Super Rugby, having made seven appearances for the Blues in 2018.
Among other changes head coach, Jason Holland, has promoted Luke Campbell, Salesi Rayasi and Billy Proctor to starting positions as part of a backline re-jig.
Up front in the engine-room, Xavier Numia, gets his first start of 2021, with Fraser Armstrong ready to add impact off the bench.
He’ll be joined by more Hurricanes firepower including Peter Umaga-Jensen, Liam Mitchell and Wes Goosen.
With both the Hurricanes and the Chiefs on the hunt for their first win of Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa, Saturday’s clash at Sky Stadium is set to be a thriller.
Kick-off is 7:05 pm.
The Hurricanes squad to face the Chiefs is:
1 XAVIER NUMIA
2 RICKY RICCITELLI
3 TYREL LOMAX
4 JAMES BLACKWELL
5 ISAIA WALKER-LEAWERE
6 REED PRINSEP
7 DU’PLESSIS KIRIFI
8 ARDIE SAVEA [C]
9 LUKE CAMPBELL
10 ORBYN LEGER
11 SALESI RAYASI
12 NGANI LAUMAPE
13 BILLY PROCTOR
14 JULIAN SAVEA
15 JORDIE BARRETT
REPLACEMENTS:
16. JAMES O’REILLY
17. FRASER ARMSTRONG
18. TEVITA MAFILEO
19. LIAM MITCHELL
20. DEVAN FLANDERS
21. JONATHAN TAUMATEINE
22. PETER UMAGA-JENSEN
23. WES GOOSEN
