Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph has named newcomers Andrew Hore and Culum Retallick in his starting XV for their opening Super Rugby pre-season match.
Also starting, when the Highlanders take on the Crusaders in Greymouth on Friday, are wider training squad members Daniel Ramsay and Glenn Dickson.
Another World Cup-winning All Black that will feature in the starting XV is scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan.
With the likes of Kurt Baker, Josh Bekhuis, Jarrad Hoeata, Jamie Mackintosh, Siale Piutau, Colin Slade, Tamati Ellison, James Haskell, Hosea Gear and Shaun Treeby injured or unavailable, Joseph leaned heavily on his back-up squad.
Also in the mix for Friday are Hoani MacDonald, another Southland lock, Fijian scrumhalf Nemia Kenatale, Stags hooker Brayden Mitchell and Buxton Popoali'i.
* Meanwhile it was confirmed that the Highlanders will play the Chiefs at the Queenstown Recreation Ground on Saturday, February 11, as part of the team's pre-season programme - leading into the start of the 2012 Super Rugby competition.
The Highlanders play the Crusaders in Greymouth on Friday, followed by the Chiefs and then the team heads to Auckland to play the Blues on Friday, February 17.
The first competition game of the 2012 competition is against the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday, February 25.
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Telusa Veainu, 13 Kendrick Lynn, 12 Glenn Dickson, 11 Kade Poki, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Elliot Dixon, 7 John Hardie, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Culum Retallick, 4 Daniel Ramsay, 3 Ma'afu Fia, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Bronson Murray.
Replacements - from: Jason Rutledge, Chris King, Hoani MacDonald, Doug Tietjens, Aaron Smith, Chris Noakes, Buxton Popoali'i, Nemia Kenatale, Nick Crosswell, Brayden Mitchell, Nasi Manu.
Date: Friday, February 3
Venue: Rugby Park, Greymouth
Kick-off: 17.45 (04.45 GMT)
Referee: Jono White
Assistant referees: Kane McBride, Spencer Tait
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