Some are starting, some are on the bench and some have been left out entirely -- but there is no mistaking the fact that every New Zealand Super 14 team just got whole lot better. All the Kiwi sides, except the Chiefs, are still in the hunt for semi-finals places and some teams, such as the Hurricanes, are in desperate need of this injection of new talent.

Blues vs Waratahs
Being in second place in the table gives Blues coach David Nucifora the luxury of not playing all his returning All Blacks. He also has the bonus of playing one of the Super 14 cellar dwellers. Only Keven Mealamu returns from the 22-man reconditioning squad -- and he's on the bench. For the Waratahs, this has been a season to forget. Even the return of their highest-paid player, Lote Tuqiri, last week failed to ignite them, as they went down to fellow strugglers the Stormers. This game will likely see the Blues run up their highest score of the season, claiming an easy win.

Highlanders vs Bulls
The Highlanders only had two players in the reconditioning squad, prop Carl Heyman and hooker Anton Oliver, but they are two of the team’s most experienced players. In an effort to ease them back into the pace of Super 14, coach Greg Cooper has named both players on the bench. With play-maker Nick Evans showing such superb form against the Blues two weeks ago, the Highlanders seem to be hitting their best at just the right time. By contrast, the Bulls seem to have run out of fuel on this tour. After two good wins in Australia they were completely demolished by the Crusaders. The return of captain Viktor Matfield from his surprise benching last week will boost the Bulls’ spirits, but the Highlanders will be too good for them at home.

Crusaders vs Stormers
Six All Blacks return for the Crusaders, including Test captain Richie McCaw and play-making maestro Dan Carter. Oddly enough McCaw will not skipper the Crusaders as Corey Flynn retains the captaincy for the meantime. This mean that Flynn will be leading not only the current All Blacks captain, but also former captains Reuben Thorne and Aaron Mauger. The Stormers are coming off an ugly win against a dreadful Waratahs outfit and despite the good form the Stormers have shown in patches, they will be no match for a powerful Crusaders team.

Reds vs Chiefs
The Chiefs, who have been decimated by injury this season, welcome back half-back Byron Kelleher and flying winger Sitiveni Sivivatu, while fullback Clinton Schifcofske returns from injury for the Reds. But even with top-name players returning, this is still a match between two teams in the bottom three. The Chiefs finally registered their first win of the season last week in convincing fashion against the Lions, while the Reds lost badly to the Force. The Chiefs know they are a better side than their position in the table would indicate, and they should dispose of a Reds side low on confidence.

Sharks vs Brumbies
The Sharks are still the only unbeaten side in this season’s Super 14, but they do have a long way to go before they threaten the 2002 Crusaders’ perfect season. A good win last weekend against the Hurricanes will have further boosted the Sharks’ already high confidence. The Brumbies went down to an explosive Cheetahs outfit and are struggling on tour. The Sharks are going to lose at least one game this season, but not to the Brumbies.