Tomorrow night’s game will feature a new captain, vice-captain and have five players running out onto their home field when the Highlanders clash with the table topping Hurricanes. Head coach, Jamie Joseph, has named a side that features six changes to the starting line-up that so impressively defeated the Chiefs last Saturday in Invercargill 36-9.

Ash Dixon earns a start, and the captaincy, while new father Elliot Dixon returns to number eight and Gareth Evans to the blindside. Fumiaki Tanaka, Jason Emery and Marty Banks replace the rested All Blacks in the starting team.

Meanwhile Ash Dixon, Brendon Edmonds, Gareth Evans, Richard Buckman and Ryan Tongia should feel right at home at McLean Park as they all play for the ITM Cup team and current Ranfurly Shield holders, Hawkes Bay Magpies.

On the bench Stags halfback, Scott Eade, could be set for his Highlanders debut while Kurt Baker makes his second appearance in the playing 23 for 2015 after coming on against the Reds in round 3.

Hurricanes v Highlanders, McLean Park, Napier – Friday 5th June, 7.35pm (local time)
1. Brendon Edmonds
2. Ash Dixon ( C )
3. Josh Hohneck
4. Alex Ainley
5. Tom Franklin
6. Gareth Evans
7. John Hardie
8. Elliot Dixon
9. Fumiaki Tanaka
10. Lima Sopoaga (VC)
11. Ryan Tongia
12. Richard Buckman
13. Jason Emery
14. Waisake Naholo
15. Marty Banks

Reserves:
16. Liam Coltman
17. Daniel Lienert-Brown
18. Ross Geldenhuys
19. Joe Latta
20. Dan Pryor
21. Scott Eade
22. Shaun Treeby
23. Kurt Baker

Unavailable: Shane Christie (hamstring), Hayden Parker (shoulder), Joe Wheeler (knee), Kane Hames (knee), Mark Reddish (hand), Nasi Manu (shoulder), Patrick Osborne (calf), Josh Renton (hamstring)

Head Coach: Jamie Joseph

Assistant Coaches: Tony Brown, Scott McLeod

Team Manager: Paul McLaughlan