Can the Blues snap out of their depressing early season form? Or will the Hurricanes give them another reason to question just what's going wrong? That'll be answered on Saturday night in this weekend's feature match, elsewhere, the hot Highlanders take on defence-optional Moana Pasifika, while the table-topping Chiefs host a Brumbies side coming off a shock loss to the Force.
Selection talking points
Samisoni Taukei'aho is finally back in action after almost a year off with injury. He's on the bench behind Brodie McAlister in the Chiefs, Quinn Tupaea moves into the starting team after his two tries last weekend. Veteran Manasa Mataele comes onto the wing in a bit of a surprise move to replace Leroy Carter.
Sione Havili Talitui and Julian Savea are missing from Moana Pasifika, with Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa and Danny Toala coming into the starting line-up. Patrick Pellegrini and Tevita Ofa will debut off the bench. Moana will be playing in their throwback Pacific Islander jerseys, on the same ground that the original side played against the All Blacks in 2004.
Highlanders props Ethan de Groot and Saula Ma'u, who both left the field injured last weekend, will back up from the bench for the Highlanders. Co-captain Hugh Renton is out and Nikora Broughton comes back into teh loose forwards.
Cam Christie and Sam Nock come onto the Blues' bench, Vern Cotter has resisted any changes to his starting XV despite two losses to start the season.
Kade Banks runs in a try during the Super Rugby Pacific pre-season match, Hurricanes v Blues. Photo: Marty Melville/Actionpress
North Harbour wing Kade Banks gets his debut start for the Hurricanes at fullback, replacing the injured Callum Harkin. There's a reshuffle in the loose forwards with Peter Lakai starting at number eight and Brayden Iose heading to the bench, and Pasilio Tosi starts at prop. Raymond Tuputupu gets a start at hooker ahead of Jacob Devery.
Team lists
Moana Pasifika v Highlanders
Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday 28 February
North Harbour Stadium, Albany
Live blog coverage on RNZ Sport
Ardie Savea, right, Pone Fa’amausili,left, and Lotu Inisi, sitting front, display the new Moana Pasifika heritage jersey, a replica of the old Pacific Islanders jersey. Photo: Moana Pasifika
Moana: 1. James Lay, 2. Millennium Sanerivi, 3. Sione Mafile'o, 4. Tom Savage, 5. Allan Craig, 6. Miracle Faiilagi, 7. Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, 8. Ardie Savea (c), 9. Jonathan Taumateine, 10. Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11. Kyren Taumoefolau, 12. Danny Toala, 13. Pepesana Patafilo, 14. Solomon Alaimalo, 15. William Havili
Bench: 16. Sama Malolo, 17. Tito Tuipulotu, 18. Chris Apoua, 19. Samuel Slade, 20. Ola Tauelangi, 21. Melani Matavao, 22. Patrick Pellegrini, 23. Tevita Ofa
Highlanders: 1. Josh Bartlett, 2. Soane Mikaele Vikena, 3. Sefo Kautai, 4. Fabian Holland, 5. Mitch Dunshea, 6. Sean Withy, 7. Veveni Lasaqa, 8. Nikora Broughton, 9. Folau Fakatava, 10. Taine Robinson, 11. Caleb Tangitau, 12. Timoci Tavatavanawai (c), 13. Tanielu Tele'a, 14. Sam Gilbert, 15. Finn Hurley
Bench: 16. Jack Taylor, 17. Ethan de Groot, 18. Saula Ma'u, 19. Will Stodart, 20. TKx` Howden, 21. Nathan Hastie, 22. Cameron Millar, 23. Jake Te Hiwi
Chiefs v Brumbies
Kick-off: 4:35pm Saturday 1 March
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Live blog coverage on RNZ Sport
Quinn Tupaea of the Chiefs scores. Photo: Jeremy Ward/Photosport
Chiefs: 1. Aidan Ross, 2. Brodie McAlister, 3. George Dyer, 4. Josh Lord, 5. Tupou Vaa'i (c), 6. Samipeni Finau, 7. Jahrome Brown, 8. Simon Parker, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Josh Jacomb, 11. Manasa Mataele, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Damian McKenzie
Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17. Ollie Norris, 18. Sione Ahio, 19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20. Kaylum Boshier, 21. Xavier Roe, 22. Daniel Rona, 23. Gideon Wrampling
Hurricanes v Blues
Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 1 March
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Live blog coverage on RNZ Sport
Pasilio Tosi. Photo: Brett Phibbs
Hurricanes: 1. Xavier Numia, 2. Raymond Tuputupu, 3. Pasilio Tosi, 4. Caleb Delany, 5. Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6. Brad Shields (cc), 7. Du'Plessis Kirifi (cc), 8. Peter Lakai, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Harry Godfrey, 11. Kini Naholo, 12. Peter Umaga-Jensen, 13. Bailyn Sullivan, 14. Fatafehi Fineanganofo, 15. Kade Banks
Bench: 16. Jacob Devery, 17. Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18. Tevita Mafileo, 19. Hugo Plummer, 20. Brayden Iose, 21. Ereatara Enari, 22. Riley Hohepa, 23. Ngatungane Punivai
Blues: 1. Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Marcel Renata, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 5. Josh Beehre, 6. Cameron Suafoa, 7. Dalton Papali'i, 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 9. Finlay Christie, 10. Harry Plummer, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. AJ Lam, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Mark Tele'a, 15. Beauden Barrett
Bench: 16. James Mullan, 17. Joshua Fusitu'a, 18. Angus Ta'avao, 19. Cam Christie, 20. Anton Segner, 21. Sam Nock, 22. Corey Evans, 23. Cole Forbes
Other games:
Waratahs v Drua
Kick-off: 9:35pm Friday 28 February
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Live blog coverage on RNZ Sport
Force v Reds
Kick-off: 9:35pm Saturday 1 March
HBF Park, Perth
