Crucial game for Development XV

Fullback Jono Ihaka has recovered from a back injury and will start, while prop Isaac Gulliver, who is also over his back injury, played 60 minutes last week and is on the bench on Saturday.

New prop Tuki Raimona gets a start in his preferred position of loosehead, with Sean Rankin going to tighthead, with Hakarangi Tichborne called into the Turbos.

Big blindside flanker Doug Juszczyk has been given until match day to recover from a knee injury, but has been bracketed with Amon Panikoula.

Panikoula is bracketed with Kirk Tufuga on the bench, but if Juszczyk plays, Panikoula will drop out of the side. The Manawatu under-19s have their third Hurricanes qualifying match for the national tournament in Taupo at the end of the month.

Manawatu have already qualified for the top eight of the national competition with wins over Hawke’s Bay and the Hurricanes Barbarians, but have a tough game against Wellington at Porirua.

The Manawatu under-16s play Hawke’s Bay at Arena Manawatu at 1pm on Saturday.

The Manawatu Cyclones women’s team have the bye. The New Zealand Secondary Schools team plays the New Zealand Barbarians Secondary Schools at Palmerston North Boys’ High School at 12.30pm on Saturday.

Palmerston North Boys’ high School flanker Liam Giltrap will start at blindside for the New Zealand Schools team, while in the Barbarians Schools team there is Feilding High School halfback Tom Stewart and wing Jona Nareki, as well as Boys’ High loose forward Brayden Iose at blindside.

The New Zealand Schools will play a three-match international series in Australia next week, playing Samoa Schools, Australian Barbarians Schools and Australia Schools in Brisbane.