KEY POINTS:
Loose forward Steven Bates will start at openside flanker for Waikato in their second round Air NZ Cup rugby match against Southland in Hamilton on Saturday.
Regular flanker Marty Holah has been rested and Steven Setephano will start on the blindside with Liam Messam at number eight.
All Blacks World Cup squad member Sione Lauaki has been named on the bench.
Other changes in the Waikato forward pack this week include burly prop Aled de Malmanche starting at loosehead prop ahead of Craig West and lock Mark Burman starting ahead of Jono Gibbes.
Waikato coach Warren Gatland has named an unchanged backline after their win over Manawatu last week.
WAIKATO
Jared Payne, Sosene Anesi, Dwayne Sweeney, Roimata Hansell-Pune, Roy Kinikinilau, Stephen Donald, Brendon Leonard, Liam Messam, Steven Bates, Steven Setephano, Toby Lynn, Mark Burman, Nathan White, Tom Willis (captain), Aled de Malmanche.
Reserves: Lionel Wairau, Craig West, Jono Gibbes, Sione Lauaki, David Bason, William Ripia, Jackson Willison.
- NZPA
