Fringe All Black Josh Ioane will resume first-five duties, when the Highlanders face the Chiefs in the opening match of Super Rugby Aotearoa on Saturday night.
Before the Super Rugby season was suspended in March, Ioane shifted between second-five and fullback, with former Crusader Mitch Hunt assuming playmaking duties.
But coach Aaron Mauger has opted to move Ioane back to his natural position, where his form in the No.10 jersey saw him make his All Blacks debut against Tonga before last year's World Cup.
The Highlanders only managed one win in six games with Hunt at first-five and he will start at fullback at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium this week.
Two players will make their Super Rugby debuts for the Highlanders, with Sam Gilbert named on the right wing and NZ Sevens star Vilimoni Koroi on the bench.
Mauger will hope Gilbert can hold the fort on the wing, as he'll be the fifth player to fill that role this season.
In the midfield, Patelesio Tomkinson will partner Rob Thompson, with the experienced Teihorangi Walden to make his impact from the bench.
Among the forwards, Pari Pari Parkinson has regained a starting lock position, partnering Josh Dickson. Experienced hooker Ash Dixon, who will start ahead of All Blacks hooker Liam Coltman, will also captain the team.
Former All Blacks wing Nehe Milner-Skudder, who signed with the team during the coronavirus lockdown, is unavailable with an ongoing shoulder injury.
The Chiefs have lost only one of their last five Super Rugby games against the Highlanders, but their last encounter ended in a 31-31 draw.
Highlanders: 1-Ayden Johnstone, 2-Ash Dixon (c), 3-Siate Tokolahi, 4-Pari Pari Parkinson, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-Dillon Hunt, 8-Marino Mikaele Tu'u, 9-Aaron Smith, 10-Josh Ioane, 11-Jona Nareki, 12-Patelesio Tomkinson, 13-Rob Thompson, 14-Sam Gilbert, 15-Mitch Hunt
Reserves: 16-Liam Coltman, 17-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18-Jeff Thwaites, 19-Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20-Teariki Ben-Nicholas, 21-Kayne Hammington, 22-Teihorangi Walden, 23-Vilimoni Koroi
Join us as 7pm Saturday for live updates of the Highlanders v Chiefs Super Rugby Aotearoa clash
