Wing Alapati Leiua is restored to the Hurricanes starting side in one of two changes for their Super Rugby match against the Highlanders in Wellington on Saturday.
Matt Proctor makes way on the right wing for Leiua while Faifili Levave replaces Brad Shields at blindside flank. Both demoted players are on the reserves bench.
Leiua’s impressive form this season saw him start the first 13 games of the season but he was on the bench for last Friday’s 34-22 loss to the Chiefs in Hamilton.
Coach Mark Hammett said he was wary of the effects on Leiua of three Test appearances for Samoa in the four-nation tournament in South Africa in June, followed by the flight home.
Another of those Samoan tourists, flanker Jack Lam, is the only new face in the 22-man squad this week. He forms part of a five-forward contingent on the bench.
The player to make way is the Hurricanes’ third Samoan international, five-eighth Tusi Pisi, who has suffered a hand injury.
Also sidelined is All Blacks hooker Dane Coles, whose injury-plagued campaign has been hit by a calf strain suffered while on Test duty last month.
Flanker and New Zealand under-20 captain Ardie Savea was listed as unavailable due to an ankle injury.
Hurricanes: James Marshall, Alapati Leiua, Conrad Smith, Reynold Lee-Lo, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Victor Vito, Karl Lowe, Faifili Levave, James Broadhurst, Jeremy Thrush, Ben May, Ash Dixon, Ben Franks. Reserves: Reggie Goodes, John Schwalger, Mark Reddish, Brad Shields, Jack Lam, Chris Smylie, Matt Proctor.