The Southland Stags will host Hawke's Bay at Rugby Park on Thursday night, with two milestones and two potential debuts adding extra weight to a home NPC fixture.
Kick-off is 7.10pm on Thursday August 27, with the Stags looking to build on their campaign in Round Five of the Hilux NPC.
Sean Withy will captain the side.
Lock Alefosio Aho and halfback Nic Shearer both reach their 15th cap and earn their Blazers — a significant milestone in Southland rugby — while loosehead prop candidates Gregor Rutledge and first five-eighths cover Takaya Saito are in line for potential first-class debuts off the bench.
The starting XV has Jack Sexton, Shaun Kempton and Sef Fa'agase in the front row, with Clem Halaholo and Aho locking the scrum. Louis Lepionka and Konrad Toleafoa flank Withy at the back of the pack.
Nic Shearer starts at halfback alongside Mika Muliaina at first five. Fletcher Morgan and Scott Gregory form the midfield, with Michael Manson, Josh Augustine and Glen Vaihu across the back three.
The bench is Aukustino Salanoa, Jack Barrett, Darius Fidow, Kasaloma Ahokovi, Rutledge, Jackson Hughan, Saito and Hayata Taniyama.
Full team:
1. Jack Sexton
2. Shaun Kempton
3. Sef Fa'agase
4. Clem Halaholo
5. Alefosio Aho
6. Louis Lepionka
7. Sean Withy (c)
8. Konrad Toleafoa
9. Nic Shearer
10. Mika Muliaina
11. Michael Manson
12. Fletcher Morgan
13. Scott Gregory
14. Josh Augustine
15. Glen Vaihu
16. Aukustino Salanoa
17. Jack Barrett
18. Darius Fidow
19. Kasaloma Ahokovi
20. Gregor Rutledge
21. Jackson Hughan
22. Takaya Saito
23. Hayata Taniyama
Thursday August 27, 7.10pm. Rugby Park, Invercargill.