Known for his raw power and elusive running style, Kade Poki is the only backs change

Highlanders’ Head Coach, Jamie Joseph, has named his team to play the Chiefs at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Friday.  He has made five changes to the run-on team that played the Crusaders at AMI Stadium a month ago.

Four changes have been made to the Highlanders forward pack with Ma’afu Fia returning to the front row replacing Chris King, who drops to the reserves.  Jason Rutledge also starts this week with All Black Andrew Hore joining front row partner King in the reserves. Nick Crosswell starts at lock in place of Josh Bekhuis who started against the Crusaders.

The final change in the forwards is Tim Boys who will start at openside flanker ahead of James Haskell.

In the backs only one change has been made with Kade Poki returning to the starting fifteen on the right wing in place of Kurt Baker.

Highlanders v Chiefs
Friday, 29 June 2012 at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick:off – 08:35 BST

Starting XV:
15 Ben Smith, 14 Kade Poki, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Phil Burleigh, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Chris Noakes, 9 Aaron Smith, 1 Jamie Mackintosh (c), 2 Jason Rutledge, 3 Ma’afu Fia, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 5 Nick Crosswell, 6 Adam Thomson, 7 Tim Boys, 8 Nasi Manu

Replacements:
16 Andrew Hore, 17 Chris King, 18 Josh Bekhuis, 19 James Haskell, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Mike Delany, 22 Buxton Popoali’i