Hurricanes v Reds: Teams

The Queensland Reds must do without in-form flanker Daniel Braid for their must-win match against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Friday.

The fourth-placed Reds can ill-afford another defeat after losing to the Brumbies last time out, while the seventh-placed Hurricanes are equally desperate for a win.

A loss for either side will all but end their play-off hopes, while victory would leave the Reds with a strong chance to snare a home semi-final provided they can beat the Highlanders in Brisbane in the final round of the regular season.

Braid has been ruled out by a knee injury and joins locks Rob Simmons (facial fracture) and Adam Byrnes (knee) on the sidelines.

However, it is not all bad news for Reds coach Ewen McKenzie, who welcomes back Van Humphries from an ankle injury in one of five changes to his starting XV.

Former Australia forward Radike Samo, who signed on with the Reds in April following a stint in France, will partner Humphries in the second row in his debut appearance for the Queenslanders.

Youngster Andrew Shaw will wear the number seven jersey for the first time this season in Braid's absence, while prop Greg Holmes will also make his first starting appearance of the campaign at tighthead.

Impact

In the only change to the back division, Rod Davies returns from a hamstring injury to take over the right wing spot from Brando Va'aulu, who reverts to the bench.

Reds Academy prop James Slipper has been added to the bench alongside flanker Lei Tomiki, who is fresh from a lengthy stint in Europe.

"Having lost Braidy in addition to Simmons and Byrnes, we took the opportunity to change things around a bit more to give us different options in the starting side and off the bench," McKenzie said.

"We'll be looking to guys like Shaw and Tomiki to give us immediate impact and putting Holmes into the starting side gives us a bit more experience there and is a reward for what he's delivered for us off the bench this year.

"In the backs, now that he is fit Rod Davies deserves the opportunity to start after being in such good form before he was injured."

The Hurricanes have recalled scrum-half Piri Weepu in place of Tyson Keats.

But a calf injury suffered in training has ruled out flanker Victor Vito, his place on the blindside goes to Michael Paterson as part of a reshuffled pack.

Jeremy Thrush starts at lock and Jacob Ellison is preferred to John Schwalger at loosehead prop.

Concussion

Conrad Smith trained on Wednesday in a bid to prove his fitness following a concussion, however he has since been ruled out.

Smith underwent psychometric tests for concussion, after which medical staff have deemed him unfit to play in the key fixture at Westpac Stadium.

Jason Kawau, who has had his own season disrupted by sinus problems and has only played 20 minutes in the tournament, will now slot in alongside Ma'a Nonu and Willie Ripia comes onto the bench.

Hurricanes: 15 C Jane, 14 T Ellison, 13 J Kawau, 12 M Nonu, 11 H Gear, 10 A Cruden, 9 P Weepu, 8 R So'oialo, 7 K Lowe, 6 M Paterson, 5 B Evans, 4 J Thrush, 3 N Tialata, 2 A Hore (c), 1 J Ellison.
Replacements: 16 D Coles, 17 J Schwalger, 18 N Crosswell, 19 S Waldrom, 20 T Keats, 21 W Ripia, 22 D Smith.

Reds: 15 P Hynes, 14 R Davies, 13 W Chambers, 12 A Faingaa, 11 D Ioane, 10 Q Cooper, 9 W Genia (capt); 1 B Daley, 2 S Fiangaa, 3 G Holmes, 4 R Samo, 5 V Humphries, 6 S Higginbotham, 7 A Shaw, 8 L Houston
Replacements: 16 S Hardman, 17 J Slipper, 18 E Taylor, 19 J Schatz, 20 L Tomiki, 21 B Lucas, 22 B Va'aulu