All Blacks first five-eighth Colin Slade will make his first start of the Super Rugby season when he slots in at fullback for the Highlanders on Saturday.

Slade has not started a match since he was ruled out of the Rugby World Cup with groin tear in the quarter-final against Argentina last October.

He replaces Ben Smith in the Highlanders side to face the Waratahs in Dunedin after the All Blacks utility back suffered a head knock against the Crusaders.

The Highlanders, unbeaten after wins against the Chiefs and Crusaders, also make a change on the right wing with Kade Poki stepping in for Buxton Popoali’i.

Captain Jamie Mackintosh will play his 50th match for the franchise.

Highlanders: Colin Slade, Kade Poki, Tamati Ellison, Phil Burleigh, Hosea Gear, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Nasi Manu, John Hardie, Adam Thomson, Nick Crosswell, Josh Bekhuis, Chris King, Andrew Hore, Jamie Mackintosh (capt). Reserves: Jason Rutledge, Bronson Murray, Culum Retallick, James Haskell, Jimmy Cowan, Kurt Baker, Buxton Popoali’i.