Several new faces seem sure to be part of the starting line-up when Wairarapa-Bush meet New Zealand Universities in a rugby "friendly" at Memorial Park, Masterton, tomorrow.
Organised at relatively late notice to provide Universities with a warm-up match before they play Japan later in the week, the game does not have first-class status and both sides are likely to field extended squads as a consequence.
Wairarapa-Bush head coach Mark Rutene and his assistant Paddy Gough were waiting until after yesterday morning's training session to name their starting XV but, barring injury, the likelihood is that up to seven players who were not part of the Heartland championship squad last year will be there.
Up front, the prospects are that in-form Martinborough hooker Adam Marshall will join regulars Kurt Simmonds (Greytown) and Wilba Davies (Martinborough) in the front row and that another newcomer in Lachie McFadzean (Carterton) will be at lock alongside Gladstone's Andrew McLean.
Two of the big finds from the 2011 Heartland campaign in James Goodger (Marist) and Johan Van Vliet (Eketahuna) are likely to be on the flanks ,with Wellington "import" Taylor Mokate debuting at No8.