Former All Blacks wing Julian Savea has made it out of Auckland and will play for Wellington in Friday night's home NPC match against Canterbury, with All Blacks hooker Dane Coles also set for a run.
Julian Savea scores for the Hurricanes. Photo: Photosport
The Hurricanes back was one of six Auckland-based players who had to return to the city after they were wrongfully exempted to travel and play for other provinces under COVID-19 protocols.
However, Savea has been given an exemption to leave the city, with Wellington Rugby filling out the paperwork correctly this time.
"It's all be done legally. New Zealand Rugby know he's here. We're looking forward to him being out there as well," said Lions coach Leo Crowley.
Coles will also get some game time before heading to the US to join up with the All Blacks squad for their Northern tour.
Coles has recovered from the calf injury that ruled him out of the Rugby Championship.
The Lions are seeking their first win since the competition restart.
There is one other change to the starting XV, with Richard Judd starting at halfback ahead of Connor Collins.
On the bench, Taine Plumtree returns after missing the last two weeks through injury, while James O'Reilly and Tomasi Alosio return to the bench to make way for Coles and Savea, after both starting last weekend in the one point loss to Bay of Plenty.
A win would lift the Lions back into the Premiership top four.
Canterbury and Wellington are the two oldest rugby unions in New Zealand.
Both established in 1879, the two sides have met on 51 occasions, with Canterbury leading the overall head to head (25 -24, with two drawn).
The matchday 23 is:
1. Xavier Numia
2. Dane Coles
3. Alex Fidow
4. James Blackwell
5. Dominic Bird
6. Caleb Delaney
7. Du'Plessis Kirifi ©
8. Keelan Whitman
9. Richard Judd
10. Ruben Love
11. Julian Savea
12. Peter Umaga-Jensen
13. Vince Aso
14. Pepesana Patafilo
15. Wes Goosen
Replacements
16. James O'Reilly
17. Vince Sakaria
18. Pekahou Cowan
19. Taine Plumtree
20. Sam Smith
21. Connor Collins
22. Aidan Morgan
23. Tomasi Alosio
