Tana Umaga will return to the Wellington line-up on Sunday after a month out through injury.
The former All Blacks captain, who has just been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to rugby, has not appeared since breaking a finger in the Air New Zealand Cup win over the Bay of Plenty on August 4.
Umaga will start as a replacement for the Lions against the Tasman Makos at the capital’s Westpac Stadium.
Wellington coach John Plumtree has reshuffled the team after a narrow victory over Manawatu last time out.
Shannon Paku returns from an Achilles tendon injury with Cory Jane moving back to the wing, and youngster Alby Mathewson starts at scrum-half ahead of Jason Spice.
Wellington lock Ross Kennedy, meanwhile, will make his first start on loan at Counties-Manukau in their Ranfurly Shield rugby challenge against Canterbury in Christchurch.
