Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan has repaid the effort his side put in at Eden Park last Saturday night, retaining halfback Xavier Roe and flanker Simon Parker for their big match against the Crusaders on Friday night.
That means All Blacks Samipeni Finau and Cortez Ratima remain on the reserves bench, while openside Jahrome Brown gets his first Chiefs start after over 50 games for the Brumbies.
Rob Penney hasn't messed with his winning formula from the Crusaders' win over the Hurricanes, other than elevating hattrick hero Kyle Preston to his starting lineup.
Other notes from week two:
Hoskins Sotutu returns from injury and straight back into the Blues' starting lineup, his absence left a fairly big hole in Vern Cotter's gameplan. Finlay Christie and Taufa Funaki swap places at halfback. Meanwhile Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph has moved Sean Withy to blindside flanker, with Veveni Lasaqa starting at openside.
Peter Lakai and Pasilio Tosi once again find themselves on the bench for the Hurricanes, however since they are playing a Drua side that has struggled on the road, this is probably more of a case of minute management by Clark Laidlaw. The impressive Callum Harkin is retained at fullback.
Tana Umaga hasn't made too many changes to his Moana side, with Ardie Savea once again starting at number eight. Wellington winger Losi Filipo will get his Super Rugby debut off the bench.
Team lists
Chiefs v Crusaders
Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday 21 Feb
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Samipeni Finau of the Chiefs celebrates the win during the Super Rugby Pacific rugby match between the Chiefs and the Crusaders at FMG Stadium in Hamilton. Copyright photo: Aaron Gillions / www.photosport.nz Photo: Aaron Gillions / Photosport
Chiefs: 1. Aidan Ross, 2. Bradley Slater, 3. George Dyer, 4. Josh Lord, 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Simon Parker, 7. Jahrome Brown, 8. Luke Jacobson; 9. Xavier Roe, 10. Josh Jacomb, 11. Leroy Carter, 12. Rameka Poihipi, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Damian McKenzie
Bench: 16. Brodie McAlister, 17. Jared Proffit, 18. Reuben O'Neill, 19. Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20. Samipeni Finau, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Quinn Tupaea, 23. Gideon Wrampling
Crusaders: 1. Tamaiti Williams, 2. Ioane Moananu, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Antonio Shalfoon, 6. Cullen Grace, 7. Ethan Blackadder (VC), 8. Christian Lio-Willie; 9. Kyle Preston, 10. Taha Kemara, 11. Sevu Reece, 12. David Havili (c), 13. Levi Aumua, 14. Chay Fihaki, 15. Will Jordan
Bench: 16. Manumaua Letiu, 17. George Bower, 18. Sam Matenga, 19. Tahlor Cahill, 20. Corey Kellow, 21. Mitchell Drummond, 22. James O'Connor, 23. Dallas McLeod
Reds v Moana Pasifika
Kick-off: 9:35pm Friday 21 Feb
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Moana Pasifika prop James Lay at the North Harbour Stadium on Friday. Photo: Moana Pasifika Photo: Moana Pasifika
Moana Pasifika: 1. James Lay, 2. Millennium Sanerivi, 3. Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou, 4. Samuel Slade, 5. Allan Craig, 6. Miracle Faiilagi, 7. Sione Havili Talitui, 8. Ardie Savea (c); 9. Jonathan Taumateine, 10. Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11. Kyren Taumoefolau, 12. Lalomilo Lalomilo, 13. Pepesana Patafilo, 14. Solomon Alaimalo, 15. William Havili
Bench: 16. Sama Malolo, 17. Tito Tuipulotu, 18. Chris Apoua, 19. Tom Savage, 20. Semisi Tupou Tailoa, 21. Melani Matavao, 22. Danny Toala, 23. Losi Filipo
Hurricanes v Drua
Kick-off: 4:35pm Saturday 22 Feb
McLean Park, Napier
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Du’Plessis Kirifi (L) of the Hurricanes celebrates a try. Photo: Photosport
Hurricanes: 1. Xavier Numia, 2. Jacob Devery, 3. Tevita Mafileo, 4. Caleb Delany, 5. Hugo Plummer, 6. Brad Shields (cc), 7. Du'Plessis Kirifi (cc), 8. Brayden Iose; 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Harry Godfrey, 11. Kini Naholo, 12. Peter Umaga-Jensen, 13. Bailyn Sullivan, 14. Fatafehi Fineanganofo, 15. Callum Harkin
Bench: 16. Raymond Tuputupu, 17. Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Will Tucker, 20. Peter Lakai, 21. Ereatara Enari, 22. Riley Hohepa, 23. Ngatungane Punivai
Highlanders v Blues
Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 22 Feb
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Patrick Tuipulotu will captain the Blues in tehe 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season. Photo: Lynne Cameron / Photosport Ltd 2023 www.photosport.nz
Highlanders: 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Soane Mikaele Vikena, 3. Saula Ma'u, 4. Fabian Holland, 5. Mitch Dunshea, 6. Sean Withy, 7. Veveni Lasaqa, 8. Hugh Renton (cc); 9. Folau Fakatava, 10. Taine Robinson, 11. Caleb Tangitau, 12. Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc), 13. Tanielu Tele'a, 14. Sam Gilbert, 15. Finn Hurley
Bench: 16. Jack Taylor, 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18. Sefo Kautai, 19. Will Stodart, 20. Nikora Broughton, 21. Nathan Hastie, 22. Cameron Millar, 23. Lui Naeata.
Blues: 1. Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Marcel Renata, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 5. Laghlan McWhannell, 6. Cameron Suafoa, 7. Dalton Papali'i, 8. Hoskins Sotutu; 9. Finlay Christie, 10. Harry Plummer, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. AJ Lam, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Mark Tele'a, 15. Beauden Barrett
Bench: 16. James Mullan, 17. Joshua Fusitu'a, 18. Angus Ta'avao, 19. Josh Beehre, 20. Adrian Choat, 21. Taufa Funaki, 22. Corey Evans, 23. Cole Forbes
