Wellington Lions head coach Chris Boyd is sending out a mixture of youth and experience to face Manawatu at the Hutt Recreation Ground on Friday.

Riki Flutey returns to the Lions fold and will steer the ship from flyhalf, inside young Wes Goosen and Hurricanes back Matt Proctor, who starts at centre.

A former British and Irish Lions flyhalf, Flutey also represented England, and has returned to Wellington from a two-year stint in Japan.

For the first time since 2011, Conrad Smith will run on for the province, as the All Black takes a spot on the reserves bench alongside fellow Hurricanes Brad Shields and Reggie Goodes.

The mid-afternoon match will feature rolling substitutions across two 40-minute halves.

Wellington: Tau Mamea, Ambrose Curtis, Matt Proctor, Wes Goosen, Belgium Tuatagaloa, Riki Flutey, Jared Kahu, Adam Hill, Taniela Manu, Vaea Fifita, Christian Lloyd, Kaipati Gaualofa, Eric Sione, Leni Apisai, Tolu Fahamokioa.

Reserves: Reggie Goodes, Taniela Koroi, Api Naikatini, Brad Shields, Matt O’Connor, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Conrad Smith, Afa Fa’atau.