Form and fitness concerns have led Otago coach Steve Martin to make six changes to his starting 15 for an Air NZ Cup rugby match against Wellington on Saturday night.
Otago must win the match against the competition leaders in Dunedin to have any chance of making the quarterfinals.
Martin has had much to ponder this week as he attempts to turn around Otago’s shoddy form and he has not been helped by injuries to Ben Smith and Lucky Mulipola.
Smith has a fractured foot, meaning his place at fullback has gone to Chris Noakes, while Karne Hesketh has been shunted from the left wing to the right to replace Lucky Mulipola, who has been ruled of the game due to a bout of concussion.
Andrew Parata will make his Cup debut on the left wing, while Smith has promoted Sean Romans to start at halfback in place of Toby Morland.
All Black Adam Thomson returns from his international commitments to take over on the openside flank in place of Eben Joubert, and hooker Peter Mirrielees will start ahead of Jason Macdonald.
NZPA
