The fifth round in Super Rugby kicks off this weekend in Wellington where the Hurricanes play the Southern Kings.
The Southern Kings and the Hurricanes have only played each other once before and that was in 2013 when the Kings replaced the Lions for a year.
That match was also played in Wellington and the Hurricanes won the match 46-30.
The Kings were beaten 57-24 last week in Christchurch and have been forced to call for injury replacements after that loss so this week the team is not as strong as the one fielded last week. Head coach Deon Davids has made five changes for this match.
In form hooker Edgar Marutlulle is promoted from the bench for the more experienced Schalk Ferreira due to injury while CJ Velleman also comes off the bench for Chris Cloete who is rotated down.
Stefan Willemse joins the team alongside Velleman at flank, replacing Thembelani Bholi who has also returned to Nelson Mandela Bay after being diagnosed with a hamstring tear following the Crusaders match.
One change in the backs sees Ntando Kebe return to the starting line up with Kevin Luiters, who started against the Crusaders, moving to the bench in another rotational move.
The Hurricanes have made three changes for this match as Willis Halaholo, Jason Woodward and Michael Fatialofa all come into the Hurricanes starting line up from the replacements bench last week.
There are also a number of changes to the reserves where utility back Matt Proctor returns from a knee injury and halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi and lock Geoff Cridge make their first appearances of the season.
This will be the Hurricanes first match at home in Wellington this year and they have a bye next week and have already said they want to win three in a row before the bye. They are on two wins.
The last time these two teams met the Kings were a lot better prepared team so given what has happened in the run up to this match the Hurricanes can expect to win by a greater margin.
This Match will be shown on TV in NZ, Aus, SA and in the UK on Sky Sports 2.
Average score: Hurricanes 46 Southern Kings 30
Last result
30 Mar 2013 Hurricanes v Kings 46-30 Wellington
Hurricanes record against the Kings
Played 1 , Wins 1 , Losses 0, Draws 0
Match No.34:Hurricanes v Kings
Date : Friday 25 March 2016
Venue : Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Kick Off local: 19:35 local
Referee: Brendon Pickerill
Assistant Ref 1:Nick Briant
Assistant Ref 2:Kane McBride
TMO : Aaron Paterson
Teams
Hurricanes
15 James Marshall , 14 Cory Jane , 13 Willis Halaholo 12 Ngani Laumape , 11 Jason Woodward , 10 Beauden Barrett , 9 TJ Perenara (vc) , 8 Blade Thomson , 7 Ardie Savea , 6 Vaea Fifita , 5 Mark Abbott , 4 Michael Fatialofa , 3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen , 2 Dane Coles (c) , 1 Chris Eves
Replacments: Ricky Riccitelli, Loni Uhila, Ben May, Geoff Cridge, Callum Gibbins, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Vince Aso, Matt Proctor.
Southern Kings
15 Jurgen Visser , 14 Luzuko Vulindlu , 13 Stefan Watermeyer , 12 Shane Gates (vc) , 11 Malcolm Jaer , 10 Louis Fouche , 9 Ntando Kebe , 8 Jacques Engelbrecht , 7 Stefan Willemse , 6 CJ Velleman , 5 JC Astle , 4 Steven Sykes (C) , 3 Jacobie Adriaanse , 2 Edgar Marutlulle , 1 Sti Sithole
Replacements : 16. Martin Bezuidenhoudt , 17. Justin Ackerman , 18. Tom Botha , 19. Schalk Oelofse , 20. Chris Cloete , 21. Kevin Luiters , 22. Elgar Watts , 23. JP Du Plessis
