Former Waratahs Mark Gerrard and Adam Freier will start against their old team NSW in the Melbourne Rebels’ Super Rugby opener at AAMI Park on Friday night.
As expected, Gerrard will cover the fullback role in the absence of another former Tah, the injured Kurtley Beale, while Freier has his first start at hooker with Ged Robinson out with a calf problem.
Apart from the injury-enforced changes, the Rebels, who had the bye in the first round, have a new-look back row.
Tom Chamberlain will start at No.7 while rising star Luke Jones is the blindside flanker after the pair impressed during the trials.
Stand-in skipper Gareth Delve is No.8.
League convert Jarrod Saffy will start on the bench.
Usual captain Stirling Mortlock was an early withdrawal with a calf injury with Force recruit Mitch Inman taking over at outside centre.
Rebels: Mark Gerrard, Lachlan Mitchell, Mitch Inman, James O’Connor, Cooper Vuna, Danny Cipriani, Nick Phipps, Gareth Delve, Tom Chamberlain, Luke Jones, Hugh Pyle, Adam Byrnes, Laurie Weeks, Adam Freier, Nic Henderson. Res: Luke Holmes, Rodney Blake, Alister Campbell, Jarrod Saffy, Richard Kingi, Lloyd Johansson, Julian Huxley.