Ihaia West will make his first Super Rugby start when the Blues take on the Hurricanes at Eden Park this Saturday.

It has been a remarkable rise for the Hawke's Bay flyhalf who was brought into the Blues squad last month following the season-ending injury to Baden Kerr.

In other changes, George Moala is named on the left wing ahead of Tevita Li who has been stood down for a breach of internal team protocol, while veteran scrumhalf Piri Weepu has overcome a groin strain to be named on the bench.

Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett has again named a similar side to that which has played the bulk of the season, with the only changes injury-related.

Matt Proctor will start at fullback in place of Andre Taylor, while Ben Franks' groin injury is still being monitored. Replacement hookers Ash Dixon and Motu Matu'u are also both in question. Reggie Goodes is the first choice to cover the possibility of both Franks and the hookers being unavailable, with Mike Kainga and Brendon Edmonds named as back up if required.

Blues – 15 Lolagi Visinia, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Pita Ahki, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 George Moala, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Luke Braid (c), 6 Peter Saili, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Subs: 16 James Parsons, 17 Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 18 Angus Ta'avao, 19 Hayden Triggs, 20 Steven Luatua, 21 Piri Weepu, 22 Simon Hickey, 23 Albert Nikoro.

Hurricanes – 15 Matt Proctor, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (c), 12 Alapati Leiua, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Jack Lam, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Ben Franks/Reggie Goodes.
Subs: 16 Ash Dixon/Motu Matu'u/Goodes/ Michael Kainga, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Goodes/Brendon Edmonds, 19 Brad Shields, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 Chris Smylie, 22 Tim Bateman, 23 James Marshall.

Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images