A major boost for the Blues as they look to ignite their Super Rugby title defence against the Highlanders in Dunedin

Last year's NZR award winner for Super Rugby player of the year, Hoskins Sotutu, has been named to start at number eight on Saturday night - for his first game since suffering a knee injury in October.

Former Crusaders training group hooker James Mullan will debut off the bench.

The Highlanders have moved Folau Fakatava back to start at halfback with Nathan Hastie dropping to the bench in one of three changes from their loss to the Waratahs.



Past or present All Blacks Anton Lienert-Brown, Tupou Vaa'i, Aidan Ross and Emoni Narawa are all elevated off the bench to start for the Chiefs on Friday night against the Crusaders in Hamilton.

Crusaders coach Rob Penney says the Chiefs bench were incredible against the Blues...



Penney has made just the one change with Kyle Preston getting his first start after a hat-trick off the bench last week after Noah Hotham was injured.



Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw has kept faith with the side that lost to the Crusaders in round one - with just one change seeing Hugo Plummer replace Isaia Walker-Leawere at lock after the latter suffered a head knock.



Moana Pasifika are unchanged for their game against the Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium Friday night.

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