Coach Warren Gatland will test several new combinations when Waikato meet Northland in Saturday's first division NPC rugby match at Whangarei.
Derek Maisey will start at second five-eighth alongside Keith Lowen at centre, replacing David Hill and Mark Ranby.
Promising Brendon Leonard earns a starting spot at halfback ahead of Isaac Boss, and Fijian-born All Black Sitiveni Sivivatu is set to start on the wing after recovering from his knee injury.
Big prop Philemon Toleafoa is at loosehead with Nathan White at tighthead. Deacon Manu is on the bench.
Lock Sean Hohneck returns to the starting team this week after recovering from an ankle injury that ruled him out of last Sunday's match against Southland.
He will lock alongside Marc Morunga, who play his first run-on game after coming off the bench against Southland.
Gatland said it was important to try out different combinations as the NPC progressed.
"It is important we develop the talent we have in this Waikato squad and that we get to see most of these players in a competition match situation rather than just seeing them out on the training field," he said.
It would also keep his players fresh given shorter training weeks over the next two rounds of the competition, he said.
"We are focused on lifting our intensity this weekend -- a factor that we lacked last Sunday against Southland."
Waikato: Sosene Anesi, Richard Kahui, Keith Lowen, Derek Maisey, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Stephen Donald, Brendon Leonard, Steven Bates (captain), Dave Faville, Liam Messam, Sean Hohneck, Marc Morunga, Nathan White, Scott Linklater, Philemon Toleafoa. Reserves: Aled de Malmanche, Deacon Manu, Mark Burman, Steven Setephano, Isaac Boss, Willy Ripia Solo Korovata.
- NZPA
Waikato coach tests new combinations
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