Highlanders v Bulls: Teams

The Highlanders welcome back All Black prop Jamie Mackintosh and lock Hayden Triggs for Saturday's Super 14 clash with the unbeaten Bulls in Palmerston North.

The match will be the first in Super rugby history to be played at a neutral venue within New Zealand, moved at the Highlanders' initiative in the hope of attracting a larger crowd.

Mackintosh makes his return from injury at loosehead prop. Hayden Triggs is also promoted to the starting line-up in the second row with Chris King and Josh Bekhuis dropping to the bench.

Last week's win over the Cheetahs at Carisbrook has prompted coach Glenn Moore to resist altering his side any further, meaning the back-line remains unchanged and a fit-again Fetu'u Vainikolo will have to ride the bench.

Johnny Leota must also be content with a spot on the sidelines as Matt Berquist and Daniel Bowden continue their partnership at fly-half and inside centre respectively.

Frans Ludeke has recalled Jaco Pretorius to his Bulls starting line-up, meanwhile.

Pretorius swaps places with outside centre JP Nel while the majority of the team has been left unchanged by the Super 14 pace-setters.

The only other changes see tighthead prop Werner Kruger dropping out in place of Rayno Gerber and the suspended Deon Stegmann's place goes to Dewald Potgieter.

Elsewhere, Derick Kuün gets the nod over Chiliboy Ralepelle at hooker as the in-form Bulls look for their sixth-straight victory.

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

Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Gerhard van den Heever, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez (captain), 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Pedrie Wannenburg, 6 Dewald Potgieter, 5 Danie Rossouw, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Rayno Gerber, 2 Derick Kuün, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp. Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Jacques Burger, 20 Heini Adams, 21 Burton Francis, 22 JP Nel.