Highlanders Super rugby head coach Tony Brown has resisted making any major changes to his starting team to play the Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday.
The starting pack remains the same with Irish lock Jack Regan earning his second start.
Two changes in the backs with Josh Ioane starting at first-five and Mitch Hunt reverting to fullback where he finished the game against the Crusaders last Friday.
Aaron Smith is on the bench allowing Folau Fakatava his first start for the season.
Fakatava had an outstanding Mitre 10 campaign for Hawkes Bay and impressed off the bench against the Crusaders in Round One.
On the bench Manaaki Selby-Rickit replaces Bryn Evans and Solomon Alaimalo rounds out the six forwards, two backs reserve bench.
Highlanders
Mitch Hunt, Connor Garden-Bachop, Ngantungane Punivai, Sio Tomkinson, Jona Nareki, Josh Ioane, Folau Fakatava, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Billy Harmon, Shannon Frizell, Jack Regan, Josh Dickson, Siate Tokolahi, Ash Dixon (co-c), Daniel Lienert-Brown
Replacements: Liam Coltman, Josh Hohneck, Jeff Thwaites, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Liam Squire, Aaron Smith (co-c), Solomon Alaimalo, Hugh Renton
