Take a look at the teams ahead of the eighth round of Super Rugby Pacific, where former NRL star Zac Lomax is set to make his long-awaited rugby union debut.
There has been much speculation about Lomax after it was confirmed earlier this month that he had signed a two-year contract with Rugby Australia and the Western Force.
It was expected that he will start his 15-a-side game against the Army and the Kings last week, but that did not happen.
However, Perth outfit head coach Simon Cron has now included Lomax in his new bench for Saturday’s derby against the Reds in Brisbane.
There are only three games scheduled this weekend and the first clash will continue in Christchurch on Friday when the Crusaders host Fijian Drua.
The Crusaders will be keen to get back to their home game after a good run in Round Seven and the big news in their camp is All Blacks legend Codie Taylor, who will make his 150th appearance for the defending Super Rugby Pacific champions.
Meanwhile, the only other clash of the weekend is when the Chiefs host the Waratahs in Hamilton on Saturday.
Friday
Crusaders v Fijian grapes
Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan (c), 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12 Dallas McLeod, 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Johnny Lee, 6 Corey Kellow, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Antonio Flewer 1 George Bower Netcher
The rest: 16 George Bell, 17 Jack Sexton, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Tahlor Cahill, 20 Dom Gardiner, 21 Louie Chapman, 22 Rivez Reihana, 23 Braydon Ennor
Joe Schmidt reveals the ‘good thing’ with Zac Lomax and what position suits him best in rugby union
Drew: 15 Eliasia Droasese, 14 Joji Nasova, 13 Virimi Vakatawa, 12 Iosefo Namoce, 11 Manasa Mataele, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Gideon Salawa, 6 Nasi Elastonia Doel, 3 Metamake, Metamake, 3 Metamake, Metamake, Metamake 1 Hareet Hettet
The rest: 16 Cyrus Ravudi, 17 Emosi Tuqiri, 18 Penny Ravai, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Isoa Tuwai, 21 Phillip Basalala, 22 Kemu Valentine, 23 Ezekiel Rabitu
Saturday
Chiefs v Waratahs
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Kings: 15 Liam Coombes-Fabling, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Leroy Carter, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Xavier Roe, 8 Kaylum Boshier, 7 Luke Jacobson (c), 6 Samiupeni Lordu Joll, Samsoni 2 OFinau ‘2 Master Ollie Norris
The rest: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Jared Profit, 18 George Dyer, 19 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20 Simon Parker, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Kyle Brown, 23 Daniel Sinkinson
The Waratahs: 15 Sid Harvey, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Triston Reilly, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Max Jorgensen, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Teddy Wilson, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Clem Halaholo, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Matt Philipn E Dobbins, 3 Matt Philipn 1 Tom Dobbins
The rest: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 Jack Barrett, 18 Siosifa Amone, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Jamie Adamson, 21 Jake Gordon, 22 Jack Bowen, 23 George Poolman
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Reds v Western Force
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Red: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Filipo Daugunu, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Treyvon Pritchard, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Kalani Thomas, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight (c), 6 Joe Brial, 5 Lukhan Salakaia, 3 Nick Aidan 1 Nick Aidan 4 Ross Seru-Loto
The rest: 16 Matt Faessler, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Hamish Muller, 20 Vaiuta Latu, 21 Louis Werchon, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Tim Ryan
Power: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Dylan Pietsch, 13 George Bridge, 12 Bayley Kuenzle, 11 Darby Lancaster, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Henry Robertson, 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 7 Jack Daly, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny (c), 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Franco Misina 2 Brand Molina Paenga-Amosa, 1 Tom Robertson
The rest: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Sef Fagase, 18 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 19 Lopety Frei, 20 Will Harris, 21 Nathan Hastie, 22 Kurtley Beale, 23 Zac Lomax
READ MORE: Crusaders hit hard with All Blacks star sidelined for the rest of the season with a serious back infection
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