The Highlanders have got form lock Josh Dickson back from suspension a week earlier than anticipated.
His three-week ban for a high shot on an opponent was trimmed to two weeks after he did some remedial work on his tackling technique.
Dickson’s presence in the pack will bolster the Highlanders’ prospects of recording a rare win against the Reds in Brisbane when the sides play late tomorrow night New Zealand time.
There will be no Gareth Evans, though, though. The experienced loosie tore his pectoral muscle during the match against the Brumbies in Melbourne two weeks ago.
He requires surgery and will miss the remainder of the Super Rugby Pacific competition.
Highlanders coach Tony Brown said Evans had been in good form and his loss was a blow.
"He’s been a little bit of a fix-it man around the loose forwards. He’s been one of our key players up until now."
Dickson’s return came as a surprise when the team was named yesterday. He was not expected back until next week’s home match against the Force.
But he will line up for the game against the Reds thanks to rugby’s equivalent of a defensive driving course.
Any player banned for foul play involving head contact can apply to have the final week of their sanction substituted by undertaking a coaching intervention which addresses the issue which caused or contributed to the foul play.
The programme is overseen by World Rugby and is only available to first-time offenders.
"It is a World Rugby initiative which is obviously good for us," Brown said.
The Reds’ lineout accuracy has been poor, whereas it has been a strength for the Highlanders.
Having Dickson back in the line-up is an opportunity to put the Reds under pressure in that phase.
Veteran hooker Liam Coltman and experienced loosie James Lentjes return to the starting line-up in other changes to the pack, while young prop Saula Mau has been named on the bench.
The backline is unchanged.
"Obviously we’d like everyone to be playing better ... but I feel as though a little bit of consistency will help us for this game."
The Highlanders have been on the road for three weeks and that can zap the energy levels.
But they had a hard-fought win against the Fijian Drua in Suva on Saturday which would have topped up the tank a little.
While they have won just two of their 10 games, they are just two points outside of the top eight. The playoffs remain within reach.
The Rebels occupy eighth place, but will be without Green Island centre Ray Nu'u for the next four weeks.
The 24-year-old was sent off in the final minute of the Rebels' win over Moana Pasifika for a high shot on playmaker Christian Lealiifano. It is his second ban of the competition.
Highlanders squad to play Reds
Connor Garden-Bachop, Sam Gilbert, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Fetuli Paea, Scott Gregory, Mitch Hunt, Aaron Smith (co-captain), Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Billy Harmon, James Lentjes (co-captain), Josh Dickson, Bryn Evans, Jermaine Ainsley, Liam Coltman, Ethan de Groot. Reserves: Rhys Marshall, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Saula Mau, Max Hicks, Hugh Renton, Folau Fakatava, Marty Banks, Mosese Dawai
