The Wellington rugby coach Jamie Joseph has named Piri Weepu at first five eighth for Friday night's away game in Invercargill and dropped another All Black, the prop Neemia Tialata, to the bench.
The reshuffle came just after Weepu, the All Black halfback, re-signed with the NZRU till 2010, squashing speculation of a move to league.
The Southland-Wellington game kicks off at 7.35pm in Invercargill on Friday.
Wellington: 1. John Schwalger, 2. Ged Robinson, 3. Tim Fairbrother, 4. Jeremy Thrush, 5. Api Naikatini, 6. Victor Vito, 7. Serge Lilo, 8. Thomas Waldrom, 9. Alby Mathewson, 10. Piri Weepu (c), 11. Hosea Gear, 12. Tane Tu'ipulotu, 13. Tamati Ellison, 14. Tu Umaga-Marshall, 15. Cory Jane
Reserves: 16. Eugene Smith, 17. Neemia Tialata, 18. Scott Fuglistaller, 19. Chris Masoe, 20. Fa'atonu Fili, 21. Michael Hobbs, 22. Buxton Popoalii