Former All Black prop Kees Meeuws and former Warriors league player Ryan Shortland are the new faces in the Otago starting line-up for tomorrow night's game against Southland at Carisbrook.
Meeuws replaces Sam Hibbard in the front row and Shortland comes in for winger Fetu'u Vainikolo following last week's Ranfurly Shield loss to Wellington.
Meeuws, the former All Black who returned to Dunedin recently after four years playing in France and Britain, always looked likely to make the starting XV for the Highlanders' grudge match.
He added stability to the set-piece when he came on at half-time in Wellington as a replacement for the developing Hibbard.
Since signing for Taieri this year, Shortland has mostly played in the midfield but will get his first opportunity for the province on the wing.
He is more of a solid performer than a gamebreaker but Otago does not have a raft of quality options on the wing.
Southland has not made any changes from the side that beat Waikato 16-6 in Invercargill last week.
First five-eighth James Wilson was a late withdrawal for the match against Waikato so New Zealand Colt Robbie Robinson keeps his starting spot.
The teams:
Otago: Ben Smith, Karne Hesketh, Brett Mather, Andrew Parata, Ryan Shortland, Chris Noakes, Sean Romans, Steven Setephano, Alando Soakai (captain), Adam Thomson, Tom Donnelly, Hayden Triggs, Kees Meeuws, Jason Macdonald, Ben Nolan.
Reserves: Peter Mirrielees, Sam Hibbard, Hoani Matenga, Paul Grant, Johnny Legg, Glenn Dickson, Luke Herden.
Southland: Mark Wells, Pehi Te Whare, Kenny Lynn, Jason Kawau, Matt Saunders, Robbie Robinson, Scott Cowan, Hua Tamariki, Tim Boys, John Hardie, Joe Tuineau, Josh Bekhuis, Chris King, David Hall, Jamie Mackintosh (captain).
Reserves: Jason Rutledge, Fai Mika, Dave Gannon, Tom Fleming, Sonny Rangitoheriri, Tony Koonwaiyou, Seminar Manu.
