KEY POINTS:
Waikato coach Warren Gatland has made multiple changes to the side that lost the Ranfurly Shield for Saturday's Air NZ Cup rugby visit to Tasman.
Gatland made nine alterations to the starting line-up that featured in last Saturday's 20-33 loss to Canterbury in Hamilton.
He cited the need to rotate players as the reasoning behind his wide-ranging shake-up.
Among the more notable changes are the installation of Aled de Malmanche at hooker for captain Tom Willis.
Lock Ben Paurini will partner Mark Burman in the second row in what is his first start for the defending champions.
Steve Bates, last year's skipper, takes over the leadership from Willis and moves to the openside flank for rested former All Black Marty Holah.
Gatland has opted to move Liam Messam to Bates' usual spot on the blindside with Stephen Setephano introduced at No 8.
The backline has been revamped with pivot Stephen Donald named on the bench to give William Ripia another opportunity to call the shots.
Dwayne Sweeney will move from fullback to centre, Roimata Hansell-Pune moves in a place to second five-eighth while Jared Payne - a reserve against Canterbury - is fullback.
Sosene Anesi, unsighted since the second round victory over Southland, remains unavailable as he recovers from a quad strain.
Waikato start the seventh round of the regular season in fifth spot on 19 points, while opponents Tasman are on the cusp of the top eight play-offs in 11th - just two points adrift of eighth-placed Northland.
Waikato
Jared Payne, James Kamana, Dwayne Sweeney, Roimata Hansell-Pune, Roy Kinikinilau, William Ripia, David Bason, Stephen Setephano, Steven Bates (captain), Liam Messam, Ben Paurini, Mark Burman, Nathan White, Aled de Malmanche, Craig West.
Reserves: Tom Willis, Lionel Wairau, Kent Fife, Marty Holah, Josh Sutherland, Stephen Donald, Jackson Willison.
- NZPA
