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Aaron Cruden - Source: Photosport
Manawatu coach Dave Rennie has taken the opportunity to rest some of his key players ahead of the ITM Cup promotion final this weekend.
The Turbos will line up in their last regular season match against Otago at Forsyth Barr Stadium tomorrow night with a home final in Palmerston North on Sunday already secured.
After a gruelling campaign this season, Rennie has shuffled his squad with an eye on the final where a win would see them promoted to the Premiership division next season.
The biggest change sees standout first five-eighth Aaron Cruden, who has started in every game for Manawatu this season, on the bench with Isaac Thompson given a rare opportunity to start.
Other regular starters Tomasi Cama, Michael Fitzgerald and Grant Polson have also been given a break on the bench as they brace for a final against Hawke's Bay five days later.
Meanwhile, four changes have been made to the Otago team that lost to Canterbury in Dunedin on Saturday.
In the forwards, Jason MacDonald comes in for Liam Coltman at hooker and Tom Franklin starts at lock in place of Tom Donnelly.
In the backs Hayden Parker will start at first-five with Tony Brown moving to the reserves and Joe Hill starts on the right wing with Ben Smith moving to fullback and Glenn Dickson moving back to second-five.
Manawatu: Nehe Milner-Skudder, Casey Stone, Lewis Marshall, Aseli Tikoirotuma, Waisea Qioata, Isaac Thompson, Aaron Smith; Hamish Gosling, Doug Tietjens, Nick Crosswell, Reece Robinson, Fraser Stone, David Te Moana, Rob Foreman, Jared Brock.
Reserves: Bryn Templeman, Grant Polson, Michael Fitzgerald, James Oliver, Karl Bryson, Aaron Cruden, Tomasi Cama, Ma'afu Fia.
Otago: Ben Smith, Joe Hill, Ben Atiga, Glenn Dickson, Buxton Popoali'i, Hayden Parker, Sean Romans; Gareth Evans, Adam Hill, TJ Ioane, Tom Franklin, Daniel Ramsay, Kees Meeuws, Jason McDonald, Scott Manson.
Reserves: Liam Coltman, Pieter van der Merwe, Rob Verbakel, Paul Grant, Johnny Legg, Tony Brown, Jayden Spence, James McGougan.
