Tana Umaga has named his Blues side to take on the defending Super rugby champions, the Highlanders in their season opener at Eden Park this Friday night.
With a few surprising names in the starting 15, former All Black winger, Rene Ranger has made a clean bill of health and will come off the bench alongside Māori All Blacks and All Blacks Sevens star, Akira Ioane (Ngāpuhi, Te Whānau a Apanui).
Northland Taniwha prop, Namatahi Waa will make his official Super Rugby debut for the Blues off the bench.
The halfback and first 5/8 combination looks to be full strength with Bryn Hall and Ihaia West once again combining in the halves to lead the team around Eden Park on Friday night.
Blues v Highlanders, Eden Park, Friday 7:35pm
The team is as follows:
15 Lolagi Visinia
14 Melani Nanai
13 Male Sa'u
12 George Moala
11 Tevita Li
10 Ihaia West
9 Bryn Hall
8 Steven Luatua
7 Blake Gibson
6 Joe Edwards
5 Josh Edwards
4 Patrick Tuipulotu
3 Sione Mafileo
2 James Parsons (c)
1 Ofa Tu'ungafasi
Reserves:
16 Quentin MacDonald
17 Namatahi Waa
18 Charlie Faumuina
19 Akira Ioane
20 Kara Pryor
21 Billy Guyton
22 Matt McGahan
23 Rene Ranger