Liam Squire will make his return for the Highlanders in their Super Rugby Aotearoa season-opener against the Crusaders at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Friday night.
Liam Squire Photo: Photosport
Despite not playing at all during pre-season, coach Tony Brown has named the 23-test loose-forward to start on the bench against the reigning champions.
Squire has not played for either the Highlanders or the All Blacks since 2019 when he signed for Japanese club Red Hurricanes after suffering with recurring injuries in Super Rugby.
He will join fellow All Blacks Josh Ioane and Liam Coltman on the sideline, as Mitch Hunt is handed a start at first-five and Ash Dixon will start at hooker.
The match will see plenty of players make their debuts for the Dunedin-based franchise including fullback Solomon Alaimalo, winger Connor Garden-Bachop and flanker Billy Harmon in his first start against his old side.
Brown has opted for a six forward, two back split on the bench, which includes debutants Hugh Renton and Bryn Evans.
The Highlanders will be ruing the loss of midfielder Fetuli Paea to a season-ending ankle injury picked up in last weekend's pre-season match against the Hurricanes.
The Crusaders are also missing key back David Havili, who has been ruled out due to concussion after picking up a head knock early on in their pre-season game-of-three-halves last weekend.
Aside from Havili's absence the Crusaders lineup with a familiar team, including nine All Blacks with the additions of debutants Chay Fihaki and Fletcher Newell on the bench.
There's no room in the 23-man squad for fullback Josh McKay, who recently signed on with the Glasgow Warriors for 2022, denying him a chance to make his debut against his old team.
21-year-old Dallas McLeod gets a start at second-five where he will partner Jack Goodhue in the midfield as the Crusaders look to fill the gap left by Brayden Ennor who is recovering from a serious ACL injury.
The Crusaders loose forward trio of Ethan Blackadder, Tom Christie and Cullen Grace brings youth to their forward pack, while Quinten Strange settles for a spot on the bench.
The Super Rugby Aotearoa season opener kicks off at 7:05pm on Friday at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.