Canterbury's brought back Crusaders George Whitelock, Matt Todd and Sean Maitland for the Ranfurly Shield defence against Southland at Christchurch's Rugby Park on Saturday.
The trio will start against the Stags with Whitelock captaining the side after they sat out last weekend's victory over Auckland at Eden Park.
Ash Parker moves from blindside flanker to lock, replacing the injured Luke Katene while Paea Fa'anunu does the same at loosehead prop for Joe Moody.
Whitelock replaces Parker on the blindside. Todd comes in for Brendon O'Connor on the openside.
Maitland starts at fullback, Tom Taylor replaces All Black Colin Slade at first-five and Nepo Laulala comes into the 23 as prop cover.
Southland will be gunning for revenge in this match following last August's Shield defeat at the hands of Canterbury in Invercargill.
Canterbury:
1.
Paea Fa'anunu
2.
Paul Ngauamo
3.
Andrew Olorenshaw
4.
Ash Parker
5.
Luke Romano
6.
George Whitelock (c)
7.
Matt Todd
8.
Nasi Manu
9.
Willi Heinz
10.
Tom Taylor
11.
Patrick Osborne
12.
Ryan Crotty
13.
Robbie Fruean
14.
Telusa Veainu
15.
Sean Maitland
Reserves:
16.
Ben Funnell
17.
Nepo Laulala
18.
Reuben Thorne
19.
Brendon O'Connor
20.
Mark Swanepoel
21.
Tyler Bleyendaal
22.
Johnny McNicholl
23.
Sam Cottam
