Colin Slade, a leading contender to be World Cup understudy to All Blacks first five Dan Carter, is to finally make his Super rugby debut for the Highlanders.
Slade suffered a broken jaw in a pre-season match for the Highlanders against the Blues in January but has been named in the starting line up to play the ACT Brumbies in Invercargill on Friday night.
He's missed five matches so far, with the Highlanders third in the New Zealand conference.