Ged Robinson and Chris King both come into the front row for the Highlanders, while in the second row, Jarrad Hoeata will lock the scrum and Joe Wheeler moves to the reserves.
The loose forwards and backline remain the same from the side which beat the Hurricanes at Forsyth Barr Stadium last week.
With all 37 squad members available, Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph said selection was not easy, but if established players continued in good form then they could not be dropped.
He paid tribute to the fitness team, which had learned over the past couple of years and had adjusted training loads and schedules if players were showing any wear and tear.
Hoeata's inclusion will give more steel to the side but it means a Highlanders lineout which does not have a lot of tall timber.
The Blues, though, do not have a particularly lofty lineout, and Tom Donnelly, who was seen as the side's key lineout forward this season, has been moved to the bench this week.
He has been replaced by another former Highlander as Hayden Triggs, who returned from Japanese rugby a few weeks ago, gets a start. He will line up beside Liaki Moli.
The locking department may be thin in the Blues but a couple of big names have come into the starting line-up for the northern side.
Jerome Kaino gets his first start, and will begin on the blindside flank, with Steven Luatua moving to No 8 and Peter Saili relegated to the reserves.
Ma'a Nonu gets a start at second five-eighth after coming off the bench with Kaino last week.
The boost of starting Kaino and Nonu is tempered by the loss of halfback Piri Weepu, who is out for at least four weeks after suffering a minor stroke. Northland halfback Sonatone Takulua comes on to the bench to cover the halfback position.
The match will not be played for the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy, which is only played for once a year and was contested when these sides met last month.
The Highlanders will hold the trophy until next year.
Highlanders v Blues
Auckland, tomorrow, 7.35pm
Highlanders: Ben Smith (co-captain), Richard Buckman, Malakai Fekitoa, Phil Burleigh, Patrick Osborne, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Nasi Manu (co-captain), Shane Christie, Elliot Dixon, Jarrad Hoeata, Brad Thorn, Chris King, Ged Robinson, Kane Hames. Reserves: Liam Coltman, Craig Millar, Ma'afu Fia, Joe Wheeler, TJ Ioane, Fumiaki Tanaka, Hayden Parker, Shaun Treeby.
Blues: Charles Piutau, Frank Halai, Jackson Willison, Ma'a Nonu, George Moala, Simon Hickey, Bryn Hall, Steven Luatua, Luke Braid (captain), Jerome Kaino, Hayden Triggs, Liaki Moli, Charlie Faumuina, Tom McCartney, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: James Parsons, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Angus Ta'avao, Tom Donnelly, Peter Saili, Sonatone Takulua, Pita Ahki, Benji Marshall.
