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Blues coach Pat Lam admits he has taken a gamble in starting rookie prop Tevita Mailau in this weekend's Super 14 match against the Bulls in Pretoria.
Mailau will wear the No 1 jersey with All Black Tony Woodcock on the bench.
Lam says with hooker Keven Mealamu bracketed with Tom McCartney due to a calf strain, it is a deliberate strategy as they want to finish strongly with Woodcock on the field, playing at altitude. Mealamu faces a fitness test on the eve of the match.
Josh Blackie, the former Otago and Highlanders stalwart, has been named on the openside flank for the match between two of the competition's unbeaten teams.
The former Junior All Black, who missed the Blues pre-season campaign as he completed commitments to Japanese club Kobe Steel, is among eight changes to the starting line-up who beat the Western Force 25-19 in Perth last Friday.
Blackie, who left New Zealand at the end of the 2007 season, replaces Onosai'i Auva'a.
Blues coach Pat Lam has made several tactical and injury-enforced changes to his backline.
Former Hurricanes pivot Jimmy Gopperth replaces Tasesa Lavea at first five-eighth while Chris Smylie is also promoted from the bench to replace halfback Taniela Moa, who has returned to Auckland for the birth of his first child.
Jamie Helleur makes his first Super 14 start for the injured Benson Stanley at second five-eighth while Lam has switched Isaia Toeava to fullback for Paul Williams, who moves to the left flank.
Anthony Tuitavake shifts from the wing to his preferred centre berth.
The Blues are still denied the services of locking brothers Ali and Jay Williams plus backs Joe Rokocoko and Rudi Wulf due to injury.
All Blacks blindside Jerome Kaino, another new father, has joined the squad in South Africa and will be available for the match against the Stormers in Cape Town next weekend.
Blues
Isaia Toeava, Rene Ranger, Anthony Tuitavake, Paul Williams, Jamie Helleur, Jimmy Gopperth, Chris Smylie, Chris Lowrey, Josh Blackie, Justin Collins, Anthony Boric, Kurtis Haiu, John Afoa, Keven Mealamu (captain)/Tom McCartney, Tevita Mailau.
Reserves: McCartney/Francis Smith, Tony Woodcock, Dean Budd, Onosa'i Auva'a, Grayson Hart, Michael Hobbs, Winston Stanley.
- NEWSTALK ZB, NZPA
