Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika
Kickoff: 7.05pm Saturday 31 May
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Can Moana Pasifika lock in their first-ever playoff spot? Ardie Savea will lead them out against his old Hurricanes team in his hometown, as they face must-win circumstances. Depending on today's earlier result between the Blues and Waratahs, Moana either need a win or a bonus-point win to secure sixth spot and a playoff berth next weekend.
Meanwhile, the Canes have plenty to play for themselves, as they can secure fourth spot and a potential second life under the new playoff format.
READ: what every teams needs to do in the final round of Super Rugby Pacific
Team lists
Hurricanes: 1. Xavier Numia, 2. Jacob Devery, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Zach Gallagher, 5. Hugo Plummer, 6. Devan Flanders, 7. Du'Plessis Kirifi (cc), 8. Peter Lakai, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Brett Cameron, 11. Fatafehi Fineanganofo, 12. Peter Umaga-Jensen, 13. Billy Proctor (cc), 14. Bailyn Sullivan, 15. Ruben Love
Bench: 16. Raymond Tuputupu, 17. Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Will Tucker, 20. Brad Shields (cc), 21. Ereatara Enari, 22. Jone Rova, 23. Tjay Clarke
Moana Pasifika: 1. Tito Tuipulotu, 2. Millennium Sanerivi, 3. Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou, 4. Tom Savage, 5. Samuel Slade, 6. Miracle Faiilagi, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, 9. Jonathan Taumateine, 10. Patrick Pellegrini, 11. Solomon Alaimalo, 12. Julian Savea, 13. Lalomilo Lalomilo, 14. Kyren Taumoefolau, 15. Tevita Ofa
Bench: 16. Samiuela Moli, 17. Abraham Pole, 18. Chris Apoua, 19. Allan Craig, 20. Lotu Inisi, 21. Melani Matavao, 22. Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23. Pepesana Patafilo
Hurricanes selections
Brett Cameron glides through to score. Photo: Photosport
Brett Cameron gets the start at first-five, moving Ruben Love back to fullback. They're backed up by debutant Tjay Clarke and Jone Rova on the bench, while up front, Jacob Devery starts at hooker in place of Asafo Aumua.
Devan Flanders gets his first start of the season at blindside flanker.
Moana selections
Julian Savea of Moana Pasifika. Photo: Bianca De Marchi / www.photosport.nz
No William Havili for a second week in a row, which means Tevita Ofa will hope for a less torrid time at fullback than he faced in last weekend's demolition by the Chiefs. The only change is Julian Savea coming in at second-five for the injured Danny Toala, which means both Savea brothers will face the side that made them All Blacks over the last decade-and-a-half.
Key stats
Moana Pasifika loose forward Semisi Tupou Te'eiloa has proved difficult for opponents to put down. Photo: Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz
The Hurricanes have won all three of their Super Rugby Pacific matches against Moana Pasifika at Sky Stadium by an average margin of 32.7 points per game, scoring 52 points per game across those three wins.
Moana Pasifika have won two of their last three Super Rugby Pacific matches after conceding 50+ points in the game prior.
Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa has made 146 carries committing two or more tacklers this Super Rugby Pacific season, 27 more than any other player in the competition.
What they're saying
"It will be good playing in Wellington, but I just want to do my best for the team and for myself after the weekend. We want to respond and it just happens that we are in Wellington, so it's going to be massive." - Moana captain Ardie Savea.
"We're aware of [Savea's] strengths as a player, of their team's strengths. It'll be a tough game. They had a blip on the weekend, but we're sure that's all it was. We've been super impressed." - Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw.
Last time they met
Moana Pasifika 40 Hurricanes 31
No matter what happens from here on out, the last time these sides played will be noted as a real turning point for Moana. After losing their first three games, Savea, Patrick Pellegrini and Miracle Faiilagi played big roles in the upset win, which set Moana on the trajectory to a potential playoff berth this weekend.
What's going to happen
The good news for Moana is that they would need a lot to go wrong to repeat last weekend's horrific result, the bad is that the Hurricanes are the form team of the competition and are unbeaten in their last five games.
Moana must essentially repeat what they did against them the last time, which was to shoot out to a big lead and defend all the way into the second half, but it's unlikely the Hurricanes will let that happen.
