The Melbourne Rebels and the Highlanders both head into their Super Rugby clash with new five-eighths but there the similarity ends.

While the injury-ravaged Highlanders have been forced to call on Chris Noakes, who’s only played one Super match, the Rebels have their so-called “rock-star” James O’Connor as their new No.10.

With a hamstring complaint ruling out regular five-eighth Danny Cipriani, O’Connor brings Test experience as well 41 Super appearances into the Friday night match at Invercargill’s Rugby Park.

Veteran Mark Gerrard said it would be tough for 26-year-old Noakes, who has replaced luckless All Black Colin Slade who badly broke his leg in their first loss of the season, against the Brumbies last round.

Noakes played his first ever Super game in their season-opening win over the Chiefs but has battled an ankle injury since.

“As a rookie playmaker it will be very difficult with him getting used to the level of Super Rugby while James has played at international level at 10 and has played there this season as well for us,” Gerrard said.

After overcoming the Western Force, the Rebels are searching for the first ever back-to-back wins.

“We haven’t spoken about going back to back, we just have to believe in ourselves and trust that we can do it,” Gerrard said.

The Highlanders have also lost hooker Andrew Hoare to a calf injury while Test lock Jarrad Hoeta is back from a pectoral muscle problem as well as flanker Andrew Thomson (neck).

Despite the changes to the Highlanders line-up Gerrard said they couldn’t afford to take them lightly.

“If you look at those players coming back it’s still a very strong outfit and they have been close to the benchmark this year in Super Rugby.

“We know how hard they are to play, especially in Invercargill.”

Highlanders skipper Jamie Mackintosh said after the Canberra loss he hoped for some wet weather to rain on Melbourne’s “rock-stars”, referring to O’Connor and Wallabies fullback Kurtley Beale, who will play his second match of the year after recovering from hamstring and calf problems.

He’s unlikely to get his wish, with Gerrard saying the sun had shone on their final training run and clear skies expected for the game.