Canterbury kick off their Mitre 10 Cup season this week, when they take on Tasman in Nelson on Friday night. 

Head Coach Glenn Delaney has named his side, which includes four players returning from the Crusaders team that won the Super Rugby final less than two weeks ago. Ben Funnell, Mitchell Drummond, Richie Mo'unga and George Bridge have all been named in the starting line up. Prop Oliver Jager and midfielder Tim Bateman, who traveled with the Crusaders to Johannesburg, have also been named; Bateman will vice-captain the team at centre, while Jager will provide front-row cover on the bench. 

Josh McKay will get his first start in a Mitre 10 Cup match, following his debut in the team's Ranfurly Shield defence against Mid Canterbury recently. The New Zealand Under 20 representative will start on the left wing. Brett Cameron and Caleb Makene could also earn their first Mitre 10 Cup appearance on Friday night, if they are called on in the reserves. 

Delaney said it was fitting that his side would face Tasman in their season opener: "Our team assembled on Sunday and we were really pleased to see the energy and enthusiasm in the group leading in to this first game. 

"Tasman have great players in their side and a quality coaching group so our intensity is going to have to be there from the outset. These two sides played the final last year so we expect nothing less than a tough encounter first up and we can't wait to get our Mitre 10 Cup campaign underway", Delaney said.

The match will kick off at 7:35pm, Friday 18 August, at Trafalgar Park in Nelson. 

Canterbury team to play Tasman:

1.    Daniel Lienert-Brown

2.    Ben Funnell

3.    Siate Tokolahi

4.    Mitchell Dunshea

5.    Dominic Bird

6.    Tom Sanders

7.    Jed Brown

8.    Luke Whitelock (C)

9.    Mitchell Drummond

10.  Richie Mo'unga

11.  Josh McKay

12.  Rob Thompson

13.  Tim Bateman (VC)

14.  Poasa Waqanibau

15.  George Bridge

RESERVES

16.  Nathan Vella

17.  Alex Hodgman

18.  Oliver Jager

19.  Reed Prinsep

20.  Billy Harmon

21.  Jack Stratton

22.  Brett Cameron

23.  Caleb Makene