Auckland coach Nick White has rung the changes for Wednesday night’s Premiership clash with Waikato at Eden Park.

There are eight replacements to the starting line-up due to injury, a need for rotation in a short turnaround and a fresh injection of youth. Of further significance is the return from All Blacks squad duty of No 8 Akira Ioane.

“It’s vital that we have Akira back, with all the injuries, so he gets some more game time. We need him to step up and lead that pack with Patty (Tuipulotu),” says White.

“It’s not ideal with all the injuries and niggles, but it is a good opportunity for some of these boys to have a crack at this level. They have trained through the year and put in a lot of work, so it’ll be a big night for some of them. We just have to get some of the older boys helping them out and making their job easier.”

George Moala moves out to his favoured centre position, while TJ Faiane, after two appearances from the bench, comes into the No 12 jersey. Malakai Fekitoa is rested.

College Rifles wing Tumua Manu wins his first cap in the No 11 jersey.

There is a hew halves combination with 19-year-old Wiseguy Faiane in at first five, playing inside his brother, while Lisati Milo-Harris wins a start at halfback.

Josh Kaifa comes off the bench to slot into the No 6 jersey, replacing Sinclair Dominikovich-Murray, who was injured against Northland. Blake Gibson reverts to openside flanker, but may not be able to strip as he is battling the flu. Samuel Slade will slot back into the loose trio if that happens.

In the second-row, Ben Nee-Nee replaces Scott Scrafton who, after making 19 tackles against the Taniwha, suffered a shoulder injury that will rule him out for the season. Nee-Nee has made a good impact off the pine in the first two matches. Kurt Eklund takes the No 2 jersey after Greg Pleasants-Tate was also injured against Northland. Marcel Renata will play his blazer game at tighthead prop.

There are no less than five College Rifles clubmen on the bench and two – hooker JP Sauni and flanker Sione Havili – could make their debuts. Havili, out of Auckland Grammar, won the coveted Bronze Boot in last year’s trans-Tasman schools international in Auckland.

Havili and Wiseguy Faiane both played for the Auckland Under 19s last weekend and are likely to feature in next month’s Jock Hobbs Memorial National Under 19 tournament in Taupo.

Fullback Jordan Trainor will be up against the team for whom he played 11 games in 2015-16.

Waikato holds the Stan Thomas Memorial Trophy after inflicting a rare 35-32 Eden Park defeat on Auckland last season. The Mooloos have historically enjoyed more success than most unions on the ground, including famous victories in the 1992 NPC semifinal and the 1993 Ranfurly Shield challenge which ended Auckland’s record eight-year tenure.

Waikato is coming off a sound first half against the Steelers, which laid the platform for the 33-21 victory in Hamilton last Friday. The Mooloos are 1-1 and lie third on the Premiership standings, while Auckland is in fifth position, also at 1-1.

“They came and beat us in a close-fought game last season, where they raced out to a lead early. We’ll have to be on the ball from the word go,” says White.

“Eden Park is a special place, and we need to take pride in the ground. It’s important that we play well in front of our home fans and the people that work hard for us during the season

– Campbell Burnes

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Auckland match-day 23 for Waikato

7.35pm, Wednesday August 30, Eden Park:

15 Jordan Trainor (Ponsonby, 2 Auckland caps)

14 Vince Aso (Ponsonby, 30)

13 George Moala (Grammar TEC, 47)                                  

12 TJ Faiane (Pakuranga, 9)

11 Tumua Manu (College Rifles, 0) *

10 Wiseguy Faiane (Pakuranga, 0) *

9 Lisati Milo-Harris (Grammar TEC, 1)                                 

8 Akira Ioane (Ponsonby, 22)

7 Blake Gibson (Ponsonby, 14)/Josh Kaifa (Manukau, 6)

6 Josh Kaifa (Manukau, 6)/Samuel Slade (Ponsonby, 2)

5 Ben Nee-Nee (Pakuranga, 7)

4 Patrick Tuipulotu (Ponsonby, 16, c)

3 Marcel Renata (University, 13)

2 Kurt Eklund (University, 24)

1 Sam Prattley (Pakuranga, 36)

Reserves:

16 JP Sauni (College Rifles, 0) +

17 Emersen Tamura-Paki (College Rifles, 1)

18 Dexter Fa’amoana (College Rifles, 2)

19 Sam Ulufonua (Ponsonby, 0) +

20 Sione Havili (College Rifles, 0) +

21 Jono Hickey (Grammar TEC, 24) 

22 Pryor Collier (Ponsonby, 9)

23 Otumaka Mausia (College Rifles, 1)         

*Auckland debut

+Potential Auckland debut

Injured/unavailable: Tom McHugh (season), Jamason Fa’anana-Shultz (season), Scott Scrafton (season), Isi Tu’ungafasi, Leon Fukofuka, Dalton Papali’i, Taleni Seu, Michael Fatialofa, Melani Nanai, Greg Pleasants-Tate, Sinclair Dominikovich-Murray