The Vodafone Wellington Lions play Taranaki at Westpac Stadium on Thursday at 7.05 pm in their ninth round Air New Zealand Cup match.

The Vodafone Wellington Lions have made just one injury-related change to the starting team from last week to face their Hurricanes franchise partners to contest the John F. Henning Trophy.

Tighthead prop John Schwalger injured his ribs in last Friday’s excellent 41-27 win over Waikato and is replaced in the No. 3 jersey by Anthony Perenise who comes off the bench.

New Zealand Maori prop Hoani Tui takes Perenise’s place in the reserves, Tui playing a leading role for Wellington B in their big win over North Harbour B last weekend.

Perenise joins his Northern United teammate Jacob Ellison in the front row, alongside experienced hooker Luke Mahoney.

In one other change to the 22, loose forward Alex Tulou comes into the reserves in place of utility back Nigel Hunt, giving a five forwards-two backs split on the bench for this game.

The Lions and Taranaki will be resuming a long-standing rivalry when they run on to Westpac Stadium. This will be the 163rd clash between the pair in first class fixtures going back to 1894, of which Wellington has won 112, Taranaki 44, with five draws and one abandonment.

Wellington has held the upper hand over Taranaki in NPC clashes in recent times, Taranaki has yet to beat the Lions in the professional era and 1989’s 11-9 victory was their last win.

This will be Taranaki’s fourth visit to Westpac Stadium, with the Lions winning the previous three 41-13 in 2000, 46-17 in 2002 and 73-28 in 2004 – the latter a ten try victory after racing to a 35-0 lead midway through the first half.

However, the last two matches have been closer, the Lions winning 31-17 in New Plymouth in 2005 and 30-14 in their first round Air New Zealand Cup clash last year, also at Yarrow Stadium.

The amber and blacks are the fourth best defensive team in the Air New Zealand Cup to date this year, conceding 160 points in their eight games to date, behind Canterbury (97 points against), Auckland (109) and the Lions (147).

Additionally, with several players on both sides vying for Hurricanes berths next year this promises to be a spirited encounter.

Exciting head to head match ups include those between Lions halfback Piri Weepu and his opposite Brett Goodin, between Lions right wing Ma’a Nonu against Taranaki winger Paul Perez and the Waldrom brothers in the loose.

Wellington No. 8 Thomas and Taranaki openside Scott are both high-energy players and there will be backward steps from either when they meet on the field.