Nonu axed as Hurricanes ring the changes
All Black star Ma'a Nonu has been dumped from the Hurricanes' starting 15 as coach Colin Cooper looks to ignite the highly-rated side's 2009 Rebel Sport Super 14 campaign.
Cooper has made a total of five changes to his starting 15 from the side that lost last weekend's disappointing season-opener to the Waratahs 26-22.
The selection also sees centre Tamati Ellison named as captain for the first time, replacing the suspended Rodney So'oialo.
In a new midfield pairing, Ellison lines up alongside second-five Jason Kawau, coming into the starting side for Nonu to make his run-on Hurricanes debut against many of his former team-mates from his Highlanders days in 2006 and 2007.
Nonu is joined on the bench by All Blacks teammate Conrad Smith, who missed last weekend's Waratahs match with a groin injury.
Victor Vito will make his Super 14 debut at No 8 in place of So'oialo, after playing off the back of the scrum during the pre-season games against the Blues, Brumbies and Chiefs.
Piri Weepu is bracketed with Alby Mathewson at halfback, pending the fitness of his ankle that caused his late withdrawal from the Waratahs game.
Willie Ripia will join the playing 22 should Weepu be ruled out.
Highly-rated youngster Dan Kirkpatrick will line-up at first-five once again.
In two more changes, Jeremy Thrush starts at lock for Bryn Evans who is replaced in the playing 22 by Hurricanes rookie Api Naikatini.
David Smith joins the starting side on the right wing in place of Zac Guildford, who is rested for this match.
In 13 previous meetings between these two sides, the Hurricanes have won eight and the Highlanders five.
In the last five seasons, the Hurricanes are ahead three wins to two, with the Hurricanes wining consecutive victories from 2006-2008 and the Highlanders winning two years in a row in 2004 and 2005.
The Highlanders have traditionally proved extremely tough adversaries at home, but home ground advantage has held sway to the Hurricanes on five out of the six occasions they have played in the North Island.
The Highlanders' only win away from home against the Hurricanes was in 2005 when they triumphed 26-16 at Westpac Stadium.
The Hurricanes have beaten the Highlanders three times in Wellington and once each at Napier and New Plymouth.
Hurricanes: 15 Cory Jane, 14 David Smith, 13 Tamati Ellison (c), 12 Jason Kawau, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Dan Kirkpatrick, 9 Piri Weepu/Alby Mathewson, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Scott Waldrom, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Dane Coles, 1 John Schwalger. Reserves: Ged Robinson, Jacob Ellison, Api Naikatini, Karl Lowe, Alby Mathewson/Willie Ripia, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith.