Prolific winger Ben Lam is among a host of Hurricanes to pay for their slumping Super Rugby form in a heavily-changed team to face the Blues.
Lam is the competition’s leading tryscorer with 14 but makes way as the backline is overhauled for Saturday’s game.
Last week’s shock 24-12 loss to the Brumbies was a third on the trot for the Hurricanes, whose minor premiership hopes have been effectively scuppered.
Head Coach Chris Boyd has made six starting changes, inserting All Blacks Beauden Barrett and Vaea Fifita following bouts of concussion.
Captain Brad Shields is also back on the blindside flank, having overcome the illness that ruled him out England’s third Test against South Africa last month.
Jordie Barrett (fullback) and Nehe Milner-Skudder (wing) are switched back in their favoured roles after Wes Goosen was restored at centre.
The Hurricanes have won 20 of their last 21 games in Wellington and will be desperate to cling to their second placing in the New Zealand Conference.
With two rounds to play, they sit four points clear of the third-placed Chiefs, who they meet next week in a game likely to determine who earns a home quarter-final.
Captain Augustine Pulu returns for the Blues, replacing Sam Nock in the only change from the side which overwhelmed the Reds 39-16 at Eden Park last week.
Coach Tana Umaga says his team won’t hold anything back.
“I am sure the Hurricanes will be looking at ways to rectify their situation after three losses in a row, but we have nothing to lose,” he said.
“We will go down there and throw everything at them. Get some pride and respect back.”
HURRICANES: Jordie Barrett, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Wes Goosen, Ngani Laumape, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Blade Thomson, Sam Henwood, Brad Shields (capt), Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Ben May, Ricky Riccitelli, Toby Smith. Res: James O’Reilly, Fraser Armstrong, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Michael Fatialofa, Gareth Evans, Jamie Booth, Ihaia West, Ben Lam.
BLUES: Matt Duffie, Melani Nanai, Michael Collins, Rieko Ioane, Caleb Clarke, Stephen Perofeta, Augustine Pulu (capt), Akira Ioane, Blake Gibson, Jerome Kaino, Matiaha Martin, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Ofa Tuungafasi, Matt Moulds, Alex Hodgman. Res: James Parsons, Pauliasi Manu, Sione Mafileo, Ben Nee-Nee, Murphy Taramai, Sam Nock, Bryn Gatland, TJ Faiane.