Tana Umaga has cast aside a hefty early-season injury toll to name a strong Blues side for their opening Super Rugby match against the Highlanders.

All Blacks flanker Jerome Kaino (ankle) is among 11 players unavailable to Umaga for Friday’s match in Dunedin.

Yet he has still unveiled a starting XV featuring six Test players in the starting line-up and a seventh, lock Patrick Tuipulotu, among the reserves.

Newly-appointed captain Augustine Pulu will hope his service from halfback can spark a backline swelling with attacking talent, including wingers Rieko Ioane and Matt Duffie and midfield pairing Sonny Bill Williams and George Moala.

A key performer will be Bryn Gatland, who will make his fifth Blues appearance at five-eighth but possibly owed to the injuries suffered by Stephen Perofeta and Otere Black.

Flanker Glenn Preston will make his Super Rugby debut while most of the bench are yet to play for the Blues.

Those hoping for a first appearance are hooker Leni Apisai, prop Mike Tamoaieta, halfback Jonathan Ruru, first five-eighth Daniel Kirkpatrick and loose forward brackets, Antonio Kiri Kiri and Sione Havili.

Coach Umaga, who said Kaino is likely to be fit next week, is looking forward to seeing how his new players gel.

He said while excitement levels are high, it takes more than that to win New Zealand derbies.

They have won just once in their past 22 games against Kiwi opponents, which has contributed to them failing to make the finals since 2011.

“We continued to improve last year but we know that we need to do better against our fellow New Zealand teams, especially with two full derby rounds this year,” Umaga said.

“We have a few players with longer-term injuries, and some with lesser injuries that could have possibly played if pushed, but this is a long season and player welfare is really important.”

Blues: Michael Collins, Matt Duffie, George Moala, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Bryn Gatland, Augustine Pulu, Akira Ioane, Murphy Taramai, Glenn Preston, Scott Scrafton, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, James Parsons, Alex Hodgman. Reserves: Leni Apisai, Pauliasi Manu, Michael Tamoaieta, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sione Havili/Antonio Kiri Kiri, Jonathan Ruru, Daniel Kirkpatrick, Melani Nanai.