Otago welcomes back its All Black and has made three other changes to its side to face Hawkes Bay at Carisbrook tomorrow night.
Going into the halfway point of the Air New Zealand Cup, this match looms as a game which could define either side's season.
Otago sits in fourth place in the table, with Hawkes Bay sitting immediately below, and looking to get on the right side of the win table, after two wins and as many losses this season.
Halfback Sean Romans will make his starting debut for Otago while Ben Smith comes on to the left wing.
Hooker Peter Mirrielees comes into the side in the front row while Adam Thomson, allowed to play by All Black management, starts on the blindside flank.
Thomson last played for Otago in its heavy loss to Canterbury in a quarterfinal last year.
The wingers from last week, Karne Hesketh and Lucky Mulipola, have been bracketed on the right wing, with Hesketh carrying a niggly injury.
A decision will be made on his fitness today.
If Hesketh is not fit, Mulipola will play and Alhambra-Union fullback Casey Stone will come into the reserves.
Hooker Jason Macdonald, flanker Seko Qaraniqio, and halfback Toby Morland, who have all started the four games so far this season, drop to the reserves bench.
Otago coach Steve Martin said the three new players brought into the team had made a real impact on the game when introduced as substitutes.
Martin hoped that impact could come right from the start, and give Otago some real dominance in the opening minutes.
He said the players replaced had not been dropped because of form, but it was a chance for the introduced players to make an impact.
It would also allow experienced players to come off the bench.
Romans (23) teams up with his University A clubmate Chris Noakes, and how this duo combine will play a big part in how the Otago side performs.
The son of Mark Romans, an Otago halfback in the mid 1970s, he has a quality pass and will need to choose his options wisely.
Otago was guilty of butchering opportunities in its messy win over Counties-Manukau last week, and Romans will want to show more control behind the breakdown this week.
Mirrielees (25) has been all action when coming off the bench and should bring plenty of drive to the side this season.
Macdonald has been less prominent around the field so far this season.
Smith (22) is not the biggest of wingers but has some real talents and speed.
Hawkes Bay, coming off a five-tries-to-none win over Tasman, has made just one change to its side.
Second five-eighth Daniel Waenga injured his shoulder in the win last week and has been replaced by Sam Giddens.
The Hawkes Bay backline, with three former Otago players, in Danny Lee, Jason Shoemark and Mathew Berquist, will be dangerous with young speedsters Israel Dagg and Zac Guilford.
Up front there is plenty of solidity with hooker Hika Elliot, who was called into the All Blacks training squad last month, and prop Anthony Perenise, who is on loan from Wellington.
No 8 George Naoupu briefly joined the Highlanders this season to cover for injuries.
Highlanders prop Clint Newland is out for the season for Hawkes Bay with a shoulder injury.
The sides last met two years ago, on a damp Carisbrook Sunday afternoon, with the home side running out an easy 37-0 winner.
It is 24 years since Hawkes Bay last defeated Otago.
