Highlanders charge for playoffs
The Highlanders have the most to lose of the New Zealand Super Rugby franchises at the business end of the season.
With just five weeks before the playoff teams are finalised, 11 remain in the hunt for the five wild card spots. The Hurricanes sit on 40 points with the promise of playoff football and will likely clinch fourth on the table as they remain nine points behind the Crusaders.
However, with just eight points separating the fifth-placed Highlanders and the 14th-placed Blues, the southerners go into a critical time of their campaign with a tough run home.
The Highlanders travel to Johannesburg to meet the Lions this weekend before visiting the Stormers in Cape Town. They return to a bye after the Stormers trip, before finishing the regular season at home against the Bulls and Waratahs.
With a desirable hometown finish, the Highlanders venture to South Africa has the potential to set up their post-season.
Looking to start in the best possible fashion, the Highlanders welcome back loose forward Shannon Frizell from a mandatory All Blacks rest week, with the 25-year-old thrust straight into the starting line up in the No 8 jersey.
Waisake Naholo has also been cleared to return after almost two months on the sideline due to a knee injury, and will look to add impact from the bench when his number is called.
Highlanders’ coach Aaron Mauger has changed up his forward pack for the clash with the Lions. Dillon Hunt will start at openside flanker with Luke Whitelock on the other side of the scrum, with James Lentjes moving back to the bench while Elliot Dixon gets the week off.
Teihorangi Walden returns at second five-eighths alongside Rob Thompson in the midfield, with Patelesio Tomkinson moving to the wing as cover for the injury Tevita Li.
While the Highlanders look to further their charge to the playoffs, the hopes of another Kiwi team are guaranteed to take a massive hit when the Blues host the Chiefs tomorrow night.