KEY POINTS:
Hooker Jason Macdonald will captain the Highlanders when they play the Blues in their last Super 14 rugby warmup match at Carisbrook tomorrow night.
Coach Glenn Moore said Macdonald, joint vice-captain with halfback Jimmy Cowan, would lead the Highlanders until the return from injury of Craig Newby.
Cowan captained the Highlanders in their first hit-out, against the Chiefs in Invercargill on January 26.
Newby will miss the opening rounds of the competition while recovering from a foot injury.
"The prognosis for Craig is not as bad as we first feared so we're looking forward to having him back," Moore said.
"In the meantime, we are pleased we have the type of leadership material provided by Jason and Jimmy."
The Highlanders' opening Super 14 match is against Queensland Reds on February 15 in Brisbane.
Highlanders team to play the Blues tomorrow night: James Wilson, Paul Williams, Niva Ta'auso, Johnny Leota, Fetu'u Vainikolo, Daniel Bowden, Jimmy Cowan, Ezra Taylor, Alando Soakai, Adam Thomson/Hayden Triggs, Tom Donnelly, Isaac Ross, Clint Newland, Jason Macdonald (captain), Jamie Mackintosh. Reserves: David Hall, Keith Cameron, Hayden Triggs/Adam Thomson, Tim Boys, Toby Morland, Mike Delany, Lucky Mulipola, Brett Mather, Chris King.
Unavailable due to injury: Craig Newby, Hoani MacDonald, Steven Setephano and Aaron Bancroft.
- NZPA
