The Reds have made four changes to their starting XV for their match against the Blues at Eden Park on Friday.
Up front Greg Holmes is back at tighthead prop, with Ben Daley moving to the bench and James Slipper shifting to loosehead. Liam Gill is back from his five week lay-off and will start at openside flanker, with Beau Robinson dropping to the bench.
In the backline, Rod Davies and Anthony Fainga’a will return to the starting line-up, with Jamie-Jerry Taulagi and Ben Lucas making way. Davies comes in on the left wing and Fainga’a at inside centre, with Mike Harris moving to fullback.
Meanwhile, the Blues have made only one injury-enforced change, with Brendan O'Connor taking captain Luke Braid's place on the side of the scrum. Keven Mealamu will lead the Blues in Braid's absence.
The only other change is a positional one, with Peter Saili switching to blindside flank and Jerome Kaino moving to eighthman.
The Reds enter this one on the back of three consecutive losses, but will be buoyed by their good recent record against the Blues, having won each of their last four meetings.
Blues – 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Francis Saili, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Lolagi Visinia, 10 Simon Hickey, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Brendon O'Connor, 6 Peter Saili, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Keven Mealamu (c), 1 Tony Woodcock.
Subs: 16 James Parsons, 17 Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 18 Angus Ta'avao, 19 Hayden Triggs, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Steven Luatua, 22 Ihaia West, 23 George Moala.
Reds – 15 Mike Harris, 14 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 13 Ben Tapuai, 12 Anthony Fainga’a, 11 Rod Davies, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Jake Schatz, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Eddie Quirk, 5 James Horwill (c), 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 Saia Fainga’a, 1 James Slipper.
Subs: 16 James Hanson, 17 Ben Daley, 18 Jono Owen, 19 Ed O’Donoghue, 20 Beau Robinson, 21 Nick Frisby, 22 Ben Lucas, 23 Jamie-Jerry Taulagi.
Photo: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images
