Canterbury to unleash trump cards in Napier 

Source: PhotosportCalls for Dan Carter's All Blacks return grow

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Canterbury will unleash their two trump cards in All Blacks Dan Carter and Richie McCaw for the team's Air New Zealand Cup match against Hawke's Bay in Napier on Thursday night.

Both players entered Canterbury's successful Ranfurly Shield defence against Manawatu on Friday night via the bench, with Carter playing the final 15 minutes and McCaw replacing injured flanker Kieran Read after 20 minutes.

Read, who got a knock on the head when making a tackle early in the match, is unavailable for the Hawke's Bay game. McCaw will play at No8.

Another All Black returning for Canterbury is lock Isaac Ross, who will be playing his first match of the season for the Red and Blacks.

First-five Stephen Brett has been ruled out due to a back strain.

In other changes to the team, Tim Bateman moves to second-five, with Casey Laulala starting at centre.

James Paterson will start on the left wing instead of Tu Umaga-Marshall. Outside back Chris Small is on the reserves bench.

Blindside flanker Michael Paterson returns after sitting out last weekend's match.

Thursday night's match pits competition front-runners Canterbury against second-placed Hawke's Bay.

Canterbury coach Rob Penney is wary of a Hawke's Bay side that has now won five matches in a row.

"They have talent all across the park and we'll have to be on top of our game but we're looking forward to the challenge," Penny says.

Notable match-ups will include the battle of the No8s - Thomas Waldrom, a Crusader this season, up against All Blacks captain McCaw. In-form wing Zac Guildford, who is available for the Crusaders next season, will come up against Sean Maitland who is also in try-scoring mode.

Canterbury's last match against Hawke's Bay was last season's semi-final at AMI Stadium when Canterbury won 31-21.

Hawke's Bay last beat Canterbury in 1982 when the Magpies beat the Red and Blacks 21-13 at Hastings.

Canterbury: Colin Slade, Sean Maitland, Casey Laulala, Tim Bateman, James Paterson, Daniel Carter, Andy Ellis, Richie McCaw, George Whitelock (captain), Michael Paterson, Brad Thorn, Isaac Ross, Owen Franks, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crockett.
Reserves: Ti'i Paulo, Peter Borlase, Ash Parker, Nasi Manu, Tyson Keats, Ryan Crotty, Chris Small