Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd is taking a punt by resting three of his key All Blacks for the competition leaders’ Super Rugby game against the Melbourne Rebels in Wellington on Friday.

Among six changes from the team who beat the Highlanders 20-13 in Dunedin, Boyd has rested wing Julian Savea, five-eighth Beauden Barrett and prop Ben Franks.

Under instruction to rest all of his All Blacks players in at least two games this season, Boyd has identified a home game against the 10th-place Rebels as a chance to make some pivotal swaps.

Matt Proctor, James Marshall and Ben May fill their places respectively.

The other changes see Jason Woodward replace Nehe Milner-Skudder at fullback, Callum Gibbins replace the injured Ardie Savea at openside flank and James Broadhurst return from suspension to start at lock in place of Blade Thomson, who is recovering from concussion.

It is a poignant game for Woodward, who played two seasons for the Rebels before returning home to Wellington this year.

He has struggled for game time because of intense competition for places among the outside backs.

All Blacks hooker Dane Coles will miss a second successive game because of an elbow injury.

Halfback TJ Perenara will play his 50th game for the Hurricanes, who have won their first five games to sit atop the standings.

Hurricanes: Nehe Milner-Skudder, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith (capt), Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Victor Vito, Ardie Savea, Brad Shields, Blade Thomson, Jeremy Thrush, Ben Franks, Moto Matu’u, Reggie Goodes. Reserves: Brayden Mitchell, Ben May, Chris Eves, Mark Abbott, Callum Gibbins, Chris Smylie, Rey Lee-Lo, James Marshall.