Highlanders v Blues: Teams

The Highlanders have made two enforced changes for the visit of the Blues with number eight Nasi Manu and fly-half Matt Berquist both injured.

Manu has been ruled out for a month with a knee injury while Berquist has a hamstring strain but should be back next week.

Stephen Setephano replaces Manu and the other change has Michael Hobbs taking over the number 10 jersey from Berquist.

With Hobbs in the starting XV, Southland star Robbie Robinson will get his initiation to the world of Super Rugby as he joins the team for the first time on the bench.

All Blacks lock Tom Donnelly will once again partner Josh Bekhuis in the second row and brings up his 50th game for the Highlanders this weekend.

Blues coach Pat Lam makes just one change to the side that suffered a heavy defeat at home to the Hurricanes last week.

Former Highlander Paul Williams has recovered from a head knock he sustained in a pre-season match against the Crusaders to start at full-back, with Rudi Wulf switching to wing in place of Rene Ranger who drops to the bench.

"It enables Paul to go back to full-back, Rudi to go back to where he normally plays on the wing and Rene to make an impact off the bench," said Lam.

"We're blessed to have four good players there."

Despite being penalised off the park in their season opener at North Harbour Stadium - conceding 13 penalties of which a record nine were converted into points by the Hurricanes - Lam has backed his players to learn from their mistakes and tidy up their work at the breakdown.

"I think it's back to school and an understanding that there is low tolerance there (at the breakdown) and what the tackler does is quite crucial," Lam said.

"If you look at the decisions last week, every decision was debatable. While you might have gotten away with it in the past they're being pretty firm in that area now."

Hooker Keven Mealamu will join former All Blacks winger Doug Howlett as the most-capped Blues player when he makes his 98th appearance against the Highlanders.

Highlanders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Jason Shoemark, 12 Jayden Hayward, 11 James Paterson, 10 Michael Hobbs, 9 Jimmy Cowan (c), 8 Steven Setephano, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Clint Newland, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements: 16 Jason Macdonald, 17 Chris King, 18 Hayden Triggs, 19 John Hardie, 20 Sean Romans, 21 Robbie Robinson, 22 Fetu'u Vainikolo.

Blues: 15 Paul Williams, 14 Rudi Wulf, 13 Isaia Toeava, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Viliami Ma'afu, 7 Serge Lilo, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Anthony Boric, 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu (c), 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Charlie Faumuina, 18 Filo Paulo, 19 Peter Saili, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22 Rene Ranger.