Veteran All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu has been chosen on the Blues’ bench for his first Super Rugby appearance of the season against the equally desperate Highlanders in Auckland on Friday.

Mealamu, a former Blues skipper, returns after being given an extended summer break.

Blues coach Sir John Kirwan also made two changes to his starting team following the weekend loss to the defending champion Chiefs.

Former Chiefs player Jackson Willison takes over at inside centre from Francis Saili, with Kirwan saying he’ll provide “more experience, more talk”.

The other change is at loosehead prop, where Tim Perry replaces Tom McCartney.

Kirwan said he wanted to give Perry, who had performed well against the Bulls two rounds ago, another opportunity.

Both teams badly need a victory, with the Blues lost their last three and the Highlanders winless after five matches to be bottom of the table.

Kirwan said the Highlanders’ predicament would make them a tougher challenge.

“They are seriously dangerous,” he said.

“We’ve got a whole lot of good footballers against us that are hurting. They will bring passion, they will bring commitment and we have to match that.”

Blues: Charles Piutau, Frank Halai, Rene Ranger, Jackson Willison, George Moala, Chris Noakes, Piri Weepu, Peter Saili, Luke Braid, Steven Luatua, Ali Williams (capt), Culum Retallick, Angus Ta’avao, James Parsons, Tim Perry. Res: Keven Mealamu, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Anthony Boric, Brendon O’Connor, Jamison Gibson-Park, Baden Kerr, Francis Saili.