The Hurricanes will have Conrad Smith for their match against the Waratahs but Victor Vito is out and Piri Weepu is in doubt to play against the Waratahs.
Weepu limped out of today's training session to have ice treatment on an injured ankle and will go for tests later today to determine the extent of the injury before the Hurricanes fly to Sydney tomorrow.
"Hopefully it is just bruising," coach Colin Cooper told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"If it's bruising he'll be fine. We've got a pretty good medical group."
Cooper will however have no qualms about reinstating Tyson Keats to the No 9 jersey after a strong season which has seen Keats regularly named ahead of Weepu.
"We're armed with another really good nine who's been starting in the last few weeks. If Piri's to be replaced we're armed pretty well there.
"You've got to think of the athlete and you've got to think of the team. We've made these calls all year, we won't play anyone with a niggle. Piri will now have to go through tests."
The Hurricanes will definitely be without Victor Vito which means that Michael Paterson will wear the No 6 for a second consecutive week.
"With Victor it was very tempting to put him in, but for him and for the team it was better to leave him out," Cooper said.
In other changes All Black Conrad Smith has overcome a head knock to take his place in the midifeld replacing Jason Kawau and Cooper has shuffled his front row resources, returning former All Blacks loosehead John Schwalger with Jacob Ellison dropping back to the bench.
Hurricanes Team
1. John Schwalger , 2. Andrew Hore (captain) , 3. Neemia Tialata , 4. Bryn Evans , 5. Jeremy Thrush , 6. Michael Paterson , 7. Karl Lowe , 8. Rodney So’oialo , 9. Piri Weepu , 10. Aaron Cruden , 11. Hosea Gear , 12. Ma’a Nonu , 13. Conrad Smith , 14. Tamati Ellison , 15. Cory Jane ,
Reserves , 16. Dane Coles , 17. Jacob Ellison , 18. Nick Crosswell , 19. Scott Waldrom , 20. Tyson Keats , 21. Jason Kawau / Willie Ripia , 22. David Smith







.jpg)






