Blues v Highlanders: Teams

The injury-hit Blues are hoping All Black prop Tony Woodcock will be fit to feature in their starting line-up for Friday's clash against the Highlanders.

Woodcock has been sidelined for five weeks with an inner ear problem that has affected his balance although he has trained well this week.

Blues assistant coach Shane Howarth rated the prop an 80 per cent chance to play so Woodcock has been bracketed with Tevita Mailau.

On the other side of the scrum, Charlie Faumuina has been brought into the starting XV in place of prop John Afoa, who suffered an ankle injury during last week's 36-12 win over the Lions.

In another injury-enforced change, Jimmy Gopperth returns at fly-half in place of Tasesa Lavea, who has a hamstring twinge.

With Chris Smylie suffering a hamstring tear also during the Lions match, the Blues have bracketed Taniela Moa with Grayson Hart at scrum-half, in the hope Moa will not face a sanction from the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) over a misconduct charge due to be held later on Wednesday.

The rest of the back-line is unchanged with Isaia Toeava and Anthony Tuitavake filling the midfield and Joe Rokocoko, Rudi Wulf and Paul Williams completing the back three.

The Highlanders have made just one change to the team which stuttered to an unconvincing win over the Reds last weekend.

Dynamic winger Fetu'u Vainikolo returns from warming the reserves bench to wrest the number eleven jersey from Kendrick Lynn as the Highlanders ready themselves for the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy battle.

The Highlanders have won only once at Eden Park in Super Rugby - a 20-13 victory seven years ago.

Coach Glenn Moore will be looking for a stronger start from his team than they delivered against the Reds, when they conceded a try inside the first minute.

A superior tight five effort and the boot of pivot Matt Berquist won the day 24-19 for the Highlanders, who have a four-win four-loss record and a mid-table placing as they move into the business end of the competition.

Blues: 15 Paul Williams, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Anthony Tuitavake, 12 Isaia Toeava, 11 Rudi Wulf, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Taniela Moa, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Josh Blackie, 6 Chris Lowrey, 5 Anthony Boric, 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Keven Mealamu (c), 1 Tony Woodcock/Tevita Mailau.
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Tevita Mailau/James Afoa, 18 Jay Williams, 19 Peter Saili, 20 Grayson Hart, 21 Michael Hobbs, 22 Rene Ranger.

Highlanders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Jason Shoemark, 12 Daniel Bowden, 11 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10 Mathew Berquist, 9 Jimmy Cowan (c), 8 George Naoupu, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Clint Newland, 2 David Hall, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements: 16 Jason Rutledge, 17 Chris King, 18 Hayden Triggs, 19 Steven Setephano, 20 Sean Romans, 21 Johnny Leota, 22 Kendrick Lynn.