Hurricanes v Highlanders: Teams

All Blacks centre Ma'a Nonu has been axed from the Hurricanes' starting line-up for Friday's Super 14 match against the Highlanders.

Nonu has paid the price for a lacklustre display in the opening game against the Waratahs and has been dropped to the bench, with Southland back Jason Kawau set to make his debut for the Wellington-based franchise against his former Highlanders team-mates.

However coach Colin Cooper said despite his relegation, Nonu would still have a "big part" to play in the game but that Kawau's selection had been just reward for the work he had put in so far.

"He's going to fit what we want to play, particularly in that first half. He's excited and I think he wants to prove a few people wrong down south about his selection also," said Cooper.

Kawau is one of five changes to the starting line-up. In the forwards, Jeremy Thrush is in at lock for Bryn Evans after recovering from his groin problem, while Victor Vito replaces captain Rodney So'oialo, who is suspended, at the back of the scrum. Tamati Ellison will lead the side in So'oialo's absence.

In the back-line, Piri Weepu has been named to start at scrum-half, although he is bracketed with Alby Mathewson, due to his ankle injury.

David Smith comes onto the right wing in place of Zac Guildford, who sat out training with his right knee bandaged.

Knock

The Highlanders will be without their All Blacks Jimmy Cowan and Jamie Mackintosh after both failed to recover from injury.

In a major blow for the franchise, medical staff deemed captain Cowan hadn't recovered sufficiently from an elbow injury suffered in the first-round loss to the Brumbies.

Sean Romans will start at scrum-half with Cowan's brother Scott coming onto the reserve bench.

Likewise, prop Mackintosh was still feeling a knock to the knee and his place at loosehead goes to Chris King, with Anthony Perenise onto the bench.

Centre Jason Shoemark will be captain, having filled the role for the last 50 minutes against the Brumbies after Cowan and Mackintosh had both left the field.

The only other change is on the left wing, where Fetu'u Vainikolo has been bracketed with Kendrick Lynn.

Vainikolo is under investigation by the New Zealand Rugby Union after an early morning incident at a Dunedin bar last Saturday morning.

A misconduct hearing is expected to take place this week.

Hurricanes: 15 Cory Jane, 14 David Smith, 13 Tamati Ellison (c), 12 Jason Kawau, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 9 Piri Weepu/Alby Mathewson, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Scott Waldrom, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Dane Coles, 1 John Schwalger.
Replacements: 16 Ged Robinson, 17 Jacob Ellison, 18 Api Naikatini, 19 Karl Lowe, 20 Mathewson/Willie Ripia, 21 Ma'a Nonu, 22 Conrad Smith.

Highlanders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Jason Shoemark (c), 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Fetu'u VainikoloKendrick Lynn, 10 Daniel Bowden, 9 Sean Romans, 8 Steven Setephano, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Hayden Triggs, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Clint Newland, 2 David Hall, 1 Chris King.
Replacements: 16 Jason Rutledge 17 Anthony Perenise 18 George Naoupu 19 Tim Boys 20 Scott Cowan 21 Jayden Hayward 22 Kendrick Lynn/Brett Mather