The team is keeping an optimistic outlook heading into tomorrow night's match against the Blues at Eden Park.
That is despite the squad being down 11 players due to injury and still searching for its first win as it heads into the third week of the season.
The side has put emphasis on its squad depth in recent years and head coach Tony Brown is expecting the team's cover to step up and do the job.
''We do have 11 [injured players],'' coach Tony Brown said.
''But we've also got 11 guys who have been given an opportunity. Rugby's all about getting your opportunity and taking it.
''Even though we've got new guys in our squad, they're all quality rugby players. We're expecting them to take the opportunity and play well.''
Luke Whitelock has returned from injury and will take the place of Liam Squire at No 8. Squire was been ruled out for four to six weeks on Tuesday after picking up a knee injury against the Crusaders last Saturday.
Marty Banks also returns, slotting on to a bench which has a six forward-two back split.
In the other major change, stand-in captain Elliot Dixon moves to openside flanker, while Gareth Evans comes in on the blindside. That was forced after James Lentjes dislocated his elbow early on against the Crusaders.
Ben Smith remains unavailable as he recovers from a concussion coupled with having a baby born. He had been training well and, while not back into contact yet, it is hoped he might return to play the Hurricanes next week.
The Blues have named an imposing line-up. Six All Blacks make their first starts of the season.
They include hooker James Parsons, who will lead the side. He is joined in the forwards by Jerome Kaino, Charlie Faumuina and Patrick Tuipolotu. In the backs, George Moala slots in at second five-eighth and Rene Ranger comes on to the wing.
Brown is expecting a challenge from a Blues side which will be looking to rebound from a 41-26 loss to the Chiefs. After a convincing first-up win over the Rebels, a red card to Steven Luatua just before halftime proved too much to overcome last Friday night.
''They're always tough in Auckland. Obviously, they've rolled all their All Blacks back out and they've got something to prove. So yeah, we're expecting a pretty physical game.
''I definitely think the intensity will be there. I think there's supposed to be a little bit of rain in Auckland so that might slow the game down a little bit, but the physicality will be there, the intensity will be there. So I think it's just going to be a real tough battle.
Four New Zealand derbies, coupled with the injuries, made for a tough start to Brown's tenure as head coach.
However, that had not come as a surprise and he felt the team had not been far off winning its past two games.
''It was always going to be hard. We didn't expect any of these New Zealand derbies to be easy.
''The positive thing for us is that we probably could have won those two games if a little bit of luck had gone our way and we had just executed a little bit better.
''We were a little bit average in week one. Then we were awesome for 50 minutes in week two. For us it's about playing for 80 minutes and trying to execute for 80 minutes. So that's what we're focusing on.''