Mark Telea set for milestone, Blues skipper returns for Highlanders blockbuster

In-form winger Mark Telea will play his 50^th Super Rugby match on Friday night when the Blues host the Highlanders in a season-defining clash at Eden Park.

Coming off their 36-25 win over the Hurricanes last weekend, which saw milestone man Mark Telea score an incredible four tries, the Blues can clinch a top four spot with a win in round 15.

The Blues will turn to Telea for another solid outing on Friday, with the red-hot winger currently leading the competition in tries, clean breaks and defenders beaten.

“Mark’s been electric for us this year and continues to put in strong performances week in, week out,” coach Leon MacDonald said in a statement.

“Fifty games for the Blues is something to be proud of and as a backline we just need to keep putting him in good positions to let his talent flourish.”

The Blues have also welcomed back captain Dalton Papali’i, with the All Black set to start at the back of the scrum in the No. 8 jersey.

Papali’i will pack down in the back row alongside dynamic flanker Tom Robinson and powerful openside Anton Segner.

“It’s always pleasing to welcome back a player of Dalton’s calibre. He adds even more leadership and experience to the pack and I know he’s hungry to put in a performance for his teammates,” he added.

“This weekend is about what we can control; a win and we guarantee a home quarterfinal spot.

“The Highlanders have everything to play for and we’re planning for a real battle.

“We want to ensure we lock away the Gordy Hunter trophy for the season and know we’ll need to be at (our) best in order to do so.”

Flanker Akira Ioane has been moved to the bench as part of the All Blacks’ resting policy, and the backline remains unchanged.

Currently third on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder, the Blues’ “destiny is in our own hands” – but the Highlanders are hungry.

The Highlanders need to win on Friday to secure a playoffs berth, while a loss could see them fall out of the top eight depending on other results.

“I’m grateful to be able to return on Friday, the body might have enjoyed a bit of time off, but it’s fair to say I’m pretty keen to get back into it,” Papali’i said.

“Whenever we have a spell on the sidelines, you feel a bit helpless as the boys run out there and put their body on the line for the jersey.

“We need to take care of business on Friday night. Our destiny is in our own hands, a good performance and we’ll be back at Eden Park, guaranteed – it’s up to us to make it happen.”

This match is set to get underway at 7.05pm NZST at Auckland’s Eden Park on Friday.

Blues team to take on Highlanders

1. Ofa Tu’ungafasi
2. Ricky Riccitelli
3. Nepo Laulala
4. Patrick Tuipulotu
5. James Tucker
6. Tom Robinson
7. Anton Segner
8. Dalton Papali’i
9. Finlay Christie
10. Harry Plummer
11. Caleb Clarke
12. Bryce Heem
13. Rieko Ioane
14. Mark Telea
15. Zarn Sullivan

Replacements:

16. Kurt Eklund
17. Jordan Lay
18. Marcel Renata
19. Rob Rush
20. Akira Ioane
21. Sam Nock
22. Stephen Perofeta
23. AJ Lam

Players not considered: Beauden Barrett, Adrian Choat, Sam Darry, Alex Hodgman, Cameron Suafoa, Hoskins Sotutu, Tanielu Tele’a