Dane Coles has been named on the Hurricanes bench for their match against the Crusaders on Saturday.
The hooker was pencilled in to return against the Sharks next week, but the positive progress of his elbow injury will see him come off the bench in Wellington.
He will be joined by Blade Thomson, who has been sidelined for the past five weeks with concussion.
Meanwhile, fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder returns to the starting line-up, as does Cory Jane on the right wing.
Hurricanes – 15 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (c), 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Brad Shields, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Callum Gibbins, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Motu Matu’u, 1 Reggie Goodes.
Subs: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 Chris Eves, 19 Mark Abbott, 20 Blade Thomson, 21 Chris Smylie, 22 Matt Proctor, 23 James Marshall.
Photo: Mark Nolan/Getty Images
