Seven players will pull on a Highlanders jersey for the first time after being named in the starting team for a pre-season match against the Brumbies on Friday.

Four more Highlanders debutants are on the reserve bench for the Queenstown match against a Brumbies side to be led by returning flanker David Pocock.

Four Otago NPC players in the starting side have yet to play Super Rugby – flankers Lee Allan and Gareth Evans, lock Tom Franklin and prop Craig Millar.

Three others have arrived from other Super Rugby teams – wings Patrick Osborne (Chiefs), Richard Buckman (Hurricanes) and centre Winston Stanley (Western Force).

Included on an enlarged bench are four newcomers – centre Malakai Fekitoa (Blues), prop Kane Hames (Bay of Plenty), hooker Ged Robinson (Melbourne Rebels) and Argentina Test front-rower Matias Diaz.

No.8 Nasi Manu, flanker Shane Christie, first five-eighth Willie Ripia and hooker Brayden Mitchell are unavailable because of injury.

Hooker Liam Coltman will be captain in Manu’s absence.

Wallabies openside flanker Pocock will play his first game in 10 months after overcoming a knee injury which ruined his 2013 season.

He captains a 27-player squad which doesn’t include rested incumbent skipper Ben Mowen.

Highlanders starting 15: Trent Renata, Patrick Osborne, Winston Stanley, Shaun Treeby, Richard Buckman, Hayden Parker, Frae Wilson, Elliot Dixon, Lee Allan, Gareth Evans, Tom Franklin, Jarrad Hoeata, Ma’afu Fia, Liam Coltman (captain), Craig Millar.

Brumbies squad: David Pocock (capt), Allan Alaalatoa, Fotu Auelua, Jarrad Butler, Sam Carter, Robbie Coleman, Lionel Cronje, Michael Dowsett, Matt Hawke, Conrad Hoffman, Rod Iona, Josh MannRea, Pat McCabe, Lachlan McCaffery, Leon Power, Clyde Rathbone, Siliva Siliva, Scott Sio, Andrew Smith, JP Smith, Michael Smith, Ruan Smith, Henry Speight, Tom Staniforth, Haru Tetakawa, Jack Whetton, Stephan Van der Walt.