AB first fives will be warming bench to start

Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger says Josh Ioane will have to be eased back into the game. Photo: Gregor Richardson

Mitch Hunt will continue in the number 10 jersey for the Highlanders despite Josh Ioane being available again after getting over a groin injury.

Ioane is on the bench and is expected to get some time in the second half.

The Chiefs have named Kaleb Trask at first five-eighth, with Aaron Cruden on the bench. If he gets on, which is very likely, it will be his 99th game for the Chiefs.

Trask actually started the first game against the Highlanders last month, while Hunt also started when Ioane pulled out late due to the sore groin.

Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger said Ioane had not played a game since March, so would have to be eased back into the game.

Ioane’s speed and guile was missed by the Highlanders, but he will not hit the ground running, so it is wise to keep him back from starting.

Trask gets the start as the Chiefs look to the future with Cruden set to move to Japan later this year.

Mauger had also moved Scott Gregory over to the left wing and brought back Josh McKay to the right wing. McKay had been training well and gets his reward, he said. Jona Nareki has a rest after a busy first four games.

The forward pack is the same as last week with Dillon Hunt cleared after getting in the wars last week.

Prop Ethan De Groot will make his Highlanders debut if he comes off the bench. Daniel Lienert-Brown will not face his brother as he had dental surgery this week.

Mauger said the side had trained well this week and was looking to back its attack more.

The team scored just the one try against the Hurricanes last week, and spent a long time on defence. It needed to make better use of the ball and take the chances when they came along.

It is striving for the double over the Chiefs after a narrow 28-27 win at Forsyth Barr Stadium on June 13, Bryn Gatland winning the game with a last-minute dropped goal.

Highlanders v Chiefs