The Melbourne Rebels have been gifted extra motivation which could leave Super Rugby’s leaders the Hurricanes with egg on their faces.

They’re too smart to say it publicly but the Rebels will be spurred after the unbeaten Hurricanes opted to rest several key players from their clash on Friday night.

Under instruction to rest all of his All Blacks in at least two games this season, coach Chris Boyd chose the Westpac Stadium match with the 10th-placed Rebels to spell powerhouse winger Julian Savea, playmaker Beauden Barrett and prop Ben Franks among six changes to his team.

Among the replacements are former Rebels star Jason Woodward who gets a crack against his former teammates from fullback in place of the exciting Nehe Milner-Skudder.

Preparing for his 100th Super Rugby match, Rebels co-captain Scott Higginbotham was quick to downplay the significance of Boyd’s gamble.

“The Hurricanes have great depth in their squad and you take off bloke up and the next one is ready to step up and fill his spot,” Higginbotham said.

“We don’t see it as an advantage.”

However, the improved Rebels will feel they’re capable of beating any of their Super Rugby rivals after notching a breakthrough win over the Crusaders in Christchurch before going very close against defending champions NSW Waratahs and challengers the Brumbies.

Higginbotham said the difference in the Hurricanes this season under their new coach was improved defence and also their ability to close out matches – something his own side failed to do in last round 20-16 loss to the Lions.

“In the past the Hurricanes used to get ahead on points and they had a bit of a habit of going to sleep through the game and letting teams back into it and they’ve improved on that a lot,” he said.

Higginbotham said the 100 game milestone felt like it had been a long time coming, with his young teammates reminding him of his elder status.

“It’s the only place in the world where you’re 28 and you’re called old bull,” he said.

The Wallaby backrower will play in Japan after the World Cup but said he hadn’t ruled out a return to Super Rugby with Melbourne.

“I’ve got a lot of football left in me.

“I love playing in Melbourne and have grown very fond of the playing group here – they keep me young.”