Springboks winger Cheslin Kolbe is set to make his debut for new club Toulon, who forked out a fortune in August to sign him from Toulouse.
In the wake of an off-season where they lost a number of key players, the Highlanders have recruited strongly ahead of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season.
The Highlanders have rewarded two of their most promising youngsters with full-time contracts for next year's inaugural Super Rugby Pacific competition.
The Highlanders will be without under-fire All Blacks star Shannon Frizell for their opening Super Rugby Trans-Tasman clash against the Reds in Dunedin on Friday.
Japan star Kazuki Himeno will get his first taste of action in Highlanders colours this weekend, but his Super Rugby Aotearoa debut will have to wait another fortnight.
Tasman have secured hosting rights for a Mitre 10 Cup semi-final next week after dispatching Otago 26-20 in Dunedin.
Tasman may have been robbed of four All Blacks, but that hasn't stopped them from naming an experienced side laden with Super Rugby talent for their top-of-the-table Mitre 10 Cup clash with Waikato on Saturday.
Kieran Read's first provincial game in 11 years ended with a somewhat predictable defeat to defending champions Tasman but the former All Blacks captain savoured his long-awaited debut for Counties Manukau.
Tasman co-coaches Andrew Goodman and Clarke Dermody have wasted no time injecting their off-season recruits straight into the action for the opening round of the Mitre 10 Cup, with Sevu Reece and Mark Telea set to start on the wings on Saturday.
Tasman have named an impressive squad that features four All Blacks, 21 Super Rugby stars and a German teenager to defend their Mitre 10 Cup crown.