Canterbury Head Coach Joe Maddock has named his side to travel to Dunedin today, where they will take on Otago at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday evening. 

All six changes to the side have been made in the forwards, and there is one positional change with Reed Prinsep moving from the blindside to No. 8 in place of Whetukamokamo Douglas, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a fractured thumb. Tom Sanders steps in to wear the No. 6 jersey.

On the openside, Canterbury welcome the return of Billy Harmon, who has recovered from the knee injury he sustained during his debut Super Rugby season with the Crusaders, to start his first provincial match of 2018, and Tom Christie will provide cover on the bench. 

The loosehead props have rotated this week, with Daniel Lienert-Brown to start in this match, while Alex Hodgman moves to the reserves. At tighthead, Chris King will start and Samu Tawake is in the reserves and on debut for Canterbury, after Sef Fa'agase was ruled out.  Greg Pleasants-Tate will also miss this match through injury, which means Brodie McAlister will earn his first start for the side and another debutant, Nic Souchon, comes on to the bench.

At lock, Hamish Dalzell takes a spot on the bench and Mitch Dunshea is promoted to the starting side to face Otago. 

In Douglas' absence, Mitch Drummond will resume the Canterbury captaincy, supported by Vice-Captains in Luke Romano and Phil Burleigh for this game.

"We really feel for Whetu, and not having his on-field leadership and presence is certainly a loss to the team. We're fortunate, however, that he continues to provide plenty of leadership and guidance at training, and we have a number of capable leaders in this side to step in and carry the team forward in his absence," Maddock said. 

"It's also a huge boost to welcome Billy Harmon back in to the mix this week, we know he can't wait to get back out there and his is a timely return to our loose forward trio against Otago."

The Canterbury team will wear purple socks for this match against Otago, in acknowledgment of the Wahine in Rugby Round in the Mitre 10 and Farah Palmer Cup competitions. Wahine Round not only celebrates women's rugby, but acknowledges all women involved in the game - coaches, administrators, players and family members.

Kick off in Canterbury's match versus Otago is 5:05pm, Saturday 22 September at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.  

Canterbury team to play Otago:

1.   Daniel Lienert-Brown                                   

2.   Brodie McAlister                           

3.   Chris King                                  

4.   Luke Romano (VC)                                     

5.   Mitchell Dunshea                                  

6.   Tom Sanders                                 

7.   Billy Harmon                                      

8.   Reed Prinsep        

9.   Mitchell Drummond (C)                   

10. Brett Cameron 

11. Caleb Makene 

12. Phil Burleigh (VC)

13. Braydon Ennor 

14. Josh McKay

15. George Bridge 

RESERVES

16.   Nic Souchon*

17.   Alex Hodgman 

18.   Samu Tawake*

19.   Hamish Dalzell 

20.   Tom Christie

21.   Connor Collins 

22.   Sam Beard 

23.   Ngane Punivai 

*denotes Canterbury Mitre 10 Cup debut