There are just two changes to the Auckland starting XV for Thursday night’s crossover fixture against Otago in Dunedin.

One of those tweaks sees All Blacks squad member Akira Ioane return via the No 6 jersey.

Coach Nick White says having Ioane on the blindside and Jerome Kaino at No 8, rather than vice-versa, is not a major issue.

“Instead of two guys trying to learn two new roles, Jerome can continue at No 8 and Akira can slot in at No 6. There’s a possibility that Akira will play a bit at 8 anyway, and will probably slot in there from next week when Jerome is away,” says White.

Both Kaino and captain Patrick Tuipulotu will be able to link up with the All Blacks on Friday when they fly out to Argentina from Auckland.

Blake Gibson is still battling some niggles, so is bracketed with Sinclair Dominikovich-Murray.

Ponsonby lock Jamie Lane will potentially debut off the bench.

“Jamie’s been there or thereabouts for the last few years. His strengths are at set-piece. He’s a big, tall lad who is a good, hard worker and knows his role. He’s played well for the Development team and this will be a good opportunity for him to see how he goes at this level,” says White.

Malakai Fekitoa, after an effective outing off the bench against Southland returns to the starting XV on a ground and at a stadium he knows so well. George Moala reverts to the No 12 jersey, while TJ Faiane could attain his (14th) blazer game off the bench.

Auckland took more steps forward to record its second victory of the season in Invercargill, and will need to do so again versus the third-placed Championship side.

“We have to keep working on our starts, after letting in early points, and tidy up the lineout. Otago assistant coach Tom Donnelly is a lineout specialist. They have a pretty good defensive lineout and so we have to nail that,” says White.

“Otago play a different style with the dry ground at the stadium. They play with a lot of tempo and have good skills. They are probably not the biggest side around, but are a team full of workers. They will keep coming at you. They nearly beat Harbour and were not far off Canterbury.”

The Lin Colling Memorial Trophy, named after the late All Blacks halfback who played for both provinces, is up for grabs. It is currently in Auckland’s possession after last season’s 54-17 victory – the best of 2016 – which featured a Rieko Ioane hat-trick and 24 points by Simon Hickey.

“It’s a good chance for us to build on our five points from last week, and we need to. We have to hold onto the ball or they’ll gas us.”

The ledger between the two unions stands at 55 Auckland wins to Otago’s 21 from 84 games. Otago’s last win was four years ago (37-33) in Dunedin. – Campbell Burnes

Auckland match-day 23 for Otago

Thursday September 21, 7.35pm, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin:

15 Jordan Trainor (Ponsonby, 5 Auckland caps)          

14 Vince Aso (Ponsonby, 34)

13 Malakai Fekitoa (Pakuranga, 28)

12 George Moala (Grammar TEC, 50)                        

11 Melani Nanai (Manukau, 20)

10 Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald (University, 6)

9 Jono Hickey (Grammar TEC, 28)                             

8 Jerome Kaino (University, 58)

7 Blake Gibson (Ponsonby, 17)/Sinclair Dominikovich-Murray (University, 4)

6 Akira Ioane (Ponsonby, 23)

5 Ben Nee-Nee (Pakuranga, 11)

4 Patrick Tuipulotu (Ponsonby, 20, c)              

3 Marcel Renata (University, 17)                                 

2 Greg Pleasants-Tate (Ponsonby, 21)

1 Sam Prattley (Pakuranga, 39)

Reserves:

16 Kurt Eklund (University, 28)

17 Emersen Tamura-Paki (College Rifles, 5)

18 Isi Tu’ungafasi (Suburbs, 17)

19 Jamie Lane (Ponsonby, 0) +

20 Sinclair Dominikovich-Murray (University, 4)/Dalton Papali’i (Pakuranga, 1)           

21 Lisati Milo-Harris (Grammar TEC, 5)         

22 TJ Faiane (Pakuranga, 13)

23 Latiume Fosita (Mt Wellington, 12)

+Potential Auckland debut

Injured/unavailable: Tom McHugh (season), Jamason Fa’anana-Shultz (season), Scott Scrafton (season), Leon Fukofuka, Michael Fatialofa, Daniel Bowden, Samuel Slade, Dexter Fa’amoana, Taleni Seu

All Blacks: Rieko Ioane, Ofa Tu’ungafasi