Highlanders Ethan De Groot, Manaaki Selby-Rickit and Ray Nu’u will bolster the Southland Invitational taking on the Nadroga Stallions tomorrow.
Head coach Dale MacLeod said the trio had not trained with the side due to Highlanders commitments.
‘‘They will come straight down and we’ll give them a run,’’ MacLeod said. ‘‘We’ve got a great working relationship with the Highlanders.’’
MacLeod said Selby-Rickit had completed the suspension imposed on him by the Highlanders for an assault last year and was available to play.
Southland will field different players in each half of the Southern Field Days match.
‘‘We’ve got about 15 [Rugby Southland] Academy players and young lads who are going to play and set it up ... the idea is that nobody will play more than 40 minutes because it’s really early in the season for us.
‘‘It will really give these academy boys and club team players the opportunity because we struggle to get games like this.
‘‘We’ve just kept it simple for the boys because there’s massive variations of starting out to some being in their fourth or fifth year of Mitre 10 Cup.’’
The Highlanders had played at the field days twice in recent years but were committed to the Super Rugby competition this year.
A squad of more than 35 players was announced last month, including players from Wyndham, Edendale and Eastern Northern Barbarians.
Gore High School player Hayden Michaels (17), a loose forward, was the youngest player in the squad but exuded potential.
‘‘Hayden’s an outstanding player with a very bright future. He’s got really big ambitions and been rewarded as part of the squad.
‘‘I’d love to give him a taste of it for 10-15 minutes ... he’s a player with a massive future in Southland rugby.’’
MacLeod expected Nadroga to provide the flair Fijian rugby was renowned for.
‘‘They will be big, fast and physical. They’re naturally gifted and have that flair.’’
The game was ‘‘special’’ for Southland to be a part of, he said.
It will kick off tomorrow at 6pm at Fred Booth Park, in Waimumu.
-By Kayla Hodge