Key men missing for Highlanders

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AWAY: The Highlanders will break with tradition and use their maroon-dominated away strip for their first home game in two years at Rugby Park in Invercargill next month.

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There is major disruption to the Highlanders line-up ahead of their match against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Friday.

Their two Southland leaders Jimmy Cowan and Jamie Mackintosh are out after sustaining injuries in their 31-33 loss to the Brumbies last week.

Highlanders captain Cowan has an elbow sprain while vice-captain Mackintosh is still out of action with a knee injury.

Fetu’u Vainikolo has been bracketed with Kenny Lynn on the left wing, with a final decision on who starts pending a misconduct hearing into Vainikolo after a bar incident.

Jason Shoemark will captain the team in the absense of Cowan and Mackintosh.

HIGHLANDERS: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Jason Shoemark (C), 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Fetu’u Vainikolo\Kendrick Lynn, 10 Daniel Bowden, 9 Sean Romans, 8 Steven Setephano, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Hayden Triggs, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Clint Newland, 2 David Hall, 1 Chris King. Reserves: 16 Jason Rutledge 17 Anthony Perenise 18 George Naoupu 19 Tim Boys 20 Scott Cowan 21 Jayden Hayward 22 Kendrick Lynn\Brett Mather