Up front, Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi and lock Chris van Zyl return to the starting team and the only change to the backline sees Ruhan Nel getting the nod at outside centre.

The Capetonians must improve on their current away record to have a chance of upsetting the Hurricanes, who have turned the Cake Tin into a fortress by losing just once in 25 home games.

However, the Cape side will approach the game with a measure of confidence following three straight wins since their first round defeat to the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria.

Eben Etzebeth has been ruled out of the encounter due to concussion. Springbok tourist JD Schickerling comes into the starting line-up, with former Junior Bok captain Salmaan Moerat on the bench.

What they said:

DHL Stormers head coach Robbie Fleck said his team will be going all-out to make a positive start to their tour: “Our first week in New Zealand has been a good one and we are hoping to build on the momentum we have created. We know this will be a big challenge on the road, but it is one we are excited about as a group.”

Hurricanes: 15 Chase Tiatia, 14 Wes Goosen, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett (captain), 9 Richard Judd, 8 Reed Prinsep, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Vaea Fifita, 5 Liam Mitchell, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Ben May, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Fraser Armstrong. Replacements: 16 James O’Reilly, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Sam Henwood, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Fletcher Smith, 23 Danny Toala.

DHL Stormers: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 SP Marais, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Jaco Coetzee, 21 Justin Phillips, 22 Dan du Plessis, 23 Damian Willemse.

Head to head:

Played: 19

Hurricanes won: 8

DHL Stormers won: 11

Hurricanes points: 438

DHL Stormers points: 481

Average score: 23-25

Match information:

Date: Saturday, 23 March

SA time: 08h35

Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington

Referee: Glen Jackson

Assistant referees: Nic Briant, Ben O'Keeffe

Television Match Official: Glenn Newman

TV: SuperSport1