Highlanders v Crusaders: Teams

The Highlanders have made four changes to their starting XV for Saturday's Kiwi derby against the Crusaders in Dunedin.

In the forward pack, Mo Schwalger makes his first start for the Highlanders this season replacing hooker Jason Rutledge who moves to the reserves bench.

Chris King moves to the loosehead side of the scrum, making way for David Te Moana who replaces captain Jamie Mackintosh. Due to injury, Mackintosh has been bracketed with Bronson Murray amongst the replacements.

In the engine room, All Blacks lock Tom Donnelly makes a welcome return to the starting line-up and Jarrad Hoeata moves to the blindside flank. Adam Thomson will start on the openside and Alando Soakai drops to the bench.

In the backline, 36-year-old former All Black Tony Brown will start at fly-half which sees utility back Robbie Robinson - who had a dire night with the boot against the Stormers - warming pine.

Nick Crosswell joins the matchday 22 for the first time this season after shaking off a calf injury.

Crusaders have included scrum-half Kahn Fotuali'i and wing Zac Guildford on the bench after recovering from a back and hamstring injuries respectively.

Both had game-time in the Crusader Knights' victory over Tonga in the Pacific Rugby Cup at Lincoln University on Monday.

In other changes to the team which beat the Brumbies 52-10 at Trafalgar Park last weekend, Ben Franks replaces Wyatt Crockett at loosehead prop, Owen Franks starts at tighthead prop and Brad Thorn comes in for Chris Jack at lock.

The Highlanders lead the New Zealand conference and Crusaders head coach Todd Blackadder is expecting a big battle.

"They have played very well this season - winning their first three games including an excellent victory over the Bulls," he said.

"And they lost narrowly to a good team in the Stormers. It's shaping up as a great contest in front of what should be a good crowd at Carisbrook."

Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith, 14 James Paterson, 13 Kendrick Lynn, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Siale Piutau, 10 Tony Brown, 9 Jimmy Cowan (c), 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Adam Thomson, 6 Jarrad Hoeata, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 David Te Moana, 2 Mahonri Schwalger, 1 Chris King.
Replacements: 16 Jason Rutledge, 17 Bronson Murray/Jamie Mackintosh, 18 Nick Crosswell, 19 Alando Soakai, 20 Aaron Smith, 21 Robbie Robinson, 22 Telusa Veainu.

Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Adam Whitelock, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Ben Franks.
Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Chris Jack, 19 Jonathan Poff, 20 Kahn Fotuali'i, 21 Matt Berquist, 22 Zac Guildford.