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Kevin Senio has beaten Andy Ellis to wear the Crusaders halfback jersey in Sunday morning's Super 14 rugby semifinal against the Bulls at Pretoria.
The pair have been battling all season for the No 9 berth but coach Robbie Deans' selection is nevertheless a surprise as third-choice All Black Ellis was expected to get the nod.
Senio, 29, returns from a thigh injury which ruled him out of last week's loss to the Chiefs in Christchurch.
A one-test All Black, Senio has been in sharp form and brings a physicality which may be needed to cope with the hard-running Bulls forwards around the fringes, along with their dangerous halfback Fourie du Preez, if he is passed fit.
Ellis' All Blacks stocks take another dip, having struggled all season to make the jersey his own. His form has been fluent but unsensational and this week's demotion raises the stakes in the race for national halfback duties behind Byron Kelleher and Piri Weepu.
Other contenders include Senio, the Highlanders' Jimmy Cowan and Chiefs livewire Brendon Leonard.
Two other changes to the starting team from the Chiefs match are also in the backline.
Winger Rico Gear and first five-eighths Daniel Carter return in place of Scott Hamilton and Stephen Brett respectively.
Gear was a late withdrawal last week after his wife gave birth to their first child on game day while fellow-All Black Carter has recovered from a neck injury.
- NZPA
