Beauden Barrett will make his first appearance for the Blues at first-five against the Chiefs in Super Rugby Aotearoa.
Beauden Barrett Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Barrett, the two-time world player of the year, will make the first of his six starts for the Blues at first-five after playing at fullback since moving from the Hurricanes.
"We have always said that we have brought Beauden to the Blues to run the cutter but after the season-ending injury to Stephen Perofeta, it forced a rethink. He was our best option for fullback with the luxury have having another outstanding No 10 in Otere Black," Blues coach Leon MacDonald said.
"With Otere carrying a slight injury, then we've moved Beauden to 10 and I am sure he is looking forward to that challenge, while Matt Duffie was good when he came on at fullback."
Another Blues player, Blake Gibson, will also mark a milestone at Eden Park on Sunday when he returns from a hamstring twinge to play at openside in his 50th game.
Kurt Eklund has been named at hooker after an energetic display against the Hurricanes; Gerard Cowley-Tuioti starts at lock with Josh Goodhue to come off the bench after some big minutes in this campaign; while Caleb Clarke and TJ Faiane return to the starting line-up.
In the reserves All Black Karl Tu'inukuafe and Sam Nock return from injury while utility Emoni Narawa is bracketed with Otere Black, who will need to come through Friday's contact session.
Black came off after a bump to his neck last week, and while he passed the HIA, there is stiffness with neck movement. If he does not play, then Harry Plummer will cover first-five.
"Overall we want a much more focussed and energetic effort this week, particularly from the pack so we can supply some front-foot ball to set our backline into action," MacDonald said.
"Defence has been a key but we missed 30 tackles last week which is not going to enable us to win many games. With that issue and a platform that was not as stable as it has been, then to be honest we did well to have our noses Infront inside the last 10 minutes.
"There were lots of good things with our lineout, mauls and some good carries. We know the Chiefs are much better than their results and will bring everything to this match as they always do."
The Blues team is: 15 Matt Duffie, 14 Mark Telea, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 TJ Faiane, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie; 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Blake Gibson, 5 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu ©, 3 Ofa Tuungafasi, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Alex Hodgman.
Reserves: 16 Luteru Tolai, 17 Karl Tu'inukuafe, 18. Sione Mafileo, 19 Josh Goodhue, 20 Tony Lamborn, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Otere Black or Emoni Narawa, 23 Harry Plummer.