All Black prop John Afoa and second-five Benson Stanley will make timely returns for Auckland as they take on the defendng Air New Zealand Cup champions Canterbury on Saturday night at Eden Park.
Stanley takes over the captaincy from Kurtis Haiu in his first competition game since tearing his hamstring at the start of the Super 14 in February and replaces Jamie Helleur, who's been dropped.
Other changes from the side Hawkes Bay humbled 47-13 in Napier see a World Cup winning Under-20s player Teddy Stanaway get his first start so Benson Stanley's brother Winston moves out from centre onto the left wing in place of Atieli Pakalani.
Grayson Hart will start at halfback ahead of Taniela Moa while Afoa replaces Pauliasi Manu in the front row.
