The Queensland Reds will open their Super Rugby season by combating an All Blacks-laden Highlanders team and a crowd touted as the loudest in the world game.

Backline stars Waisake Naholo and Aaron Smith are among four Test players injected into a Highlanders starting team which features eight All Blacks for Friday’s game in Dunedin.

Powerhouse winger Naholo will make his first appearance of the year while influential halfback Smith is promoted from the bench to create problems for the Reds, who sat out an opening round bye.

Another headache for the visitors will be an anticipated raucous atmosphere.

New Zealand crowds are conservative by nature with one exception – when it’s Orientation Week in Dunedin, a week-long social extravaganza to kick-start the year for students at Otago University

Assistant coach Glenn Delaney has marvelled at how the Highlanders’ opening home game of the season has transformed into a deafening occasion, amplified by the indoor acoustics at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

“For guys who haven’t experienced an O-Week game here, it’s something different,” Delaney told reporters.

“It’s probably the best atmosphere that I’ve seen around the world and I’ve been around the world a little bit. This place is a league above.

“It’s a great chance for us to get back under the roof and put our brand of footy on in front of a baying crowd.”

There are five starting changes in total, including the selection of flankers Shannon Frizell and Dillon Hunt, who both made Test debuts last year.

Teihorangi Walden replaces Thomas Umaga-Jensen at inside centre in the fifth change from the team who charged home late to beat the Chiefs 30-27 in the competition opener at Hamilton last week.

Smith and Frizell played major parts as the Highlanders overcame the red card shown to reserve back Patelesio Tomkinson in the 67th minute for a shoulder charge, scoring the final 10 points of the game.

HIGHLANDERS: Ben Smith (co-capt), Waisake Naholo, Rob Thompson, Teihorangi Walden, Tevita Li, Josh Ioane, Aaron Smith, Luke Whitelock (co-capt), Dillon Hunt, Shannon Frizell, Josh Dickson, Jackson Hemopo, Tyrel Lomax, Liam Coltman, Ayden Johnstone. Res: Ash Dixon, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Siate Tokolahi, Jack Whetton, Marino Mikaele Tu’u, Kayne Hammington, Marty Banks, Matt Faddes.