The All Blacks winger Hosea Gear will play in the unfamiliar position of second five eighth for the Highlanders must-win Super Rugby match against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane on Friday night.
Gear comes into the midfield to replace centre and fellow All Black Tamati Ellison who has a hamstring injury.
The ninth-placed Highlanders can still reach the top six playoffs but need to take maximum points against the Reds and also need other results to go their way.