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The much-anticipated champion vs champion clash has arrived. Two-time defending MLR Shield winners Seattle host Mitre 10 Cup lifters Tasman at Starfire Stadium on Sunday evening. Both sides are coming off wins – the Seawolves stopped the Tide and the Mako tamed the SaberCats.
A strong Seattle lineup awaits the visitors. Two changes are made to the pack that shut out their Crimson counterparts. Djustice Sears-Duru jumps straight in at loosehead prop for John Hayden with fellow Canadian international Nakai Penny swapping to the bench. Eagles cap Vili Toluta’u wears the No7 shirt.
It’s an identical backline that features new signings Ross Neal and Harry Davies at outside center and fullback respectively. Two players debut off the bench. South African lock FP Pelser is named along with former Eagles back row Andrew Durutalo, just hours removed from his signing announcement.
Tasman field a side that shows only one personnel change to the match day squad that faced Houston. Caleb Coventry drops out completely with Nick Foxley pushing in one spot from the right wing to outside center. Rahiri Witehira swaps left for right and Taine Robinson takes over on the left wing.
Kickoff is set for 7:30pm local time, 10:30 Eastern. There is no live broadcast planned.
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Djustice Sears-Duru, 2 Stephan Coetzee, 3 Tim Metcher, 4 Jérémy Lenaerts, 5 Brad Tucker, 6 Eric Duechle, 7 Vili Toluta’u, 8 Riekert Hattingh, 9 JP Smith, 10 Ben Cima, 11 Brock Staller, 12 Shalom Suniula, 13 Ross Neal, 14 Mat Turner, 15 Harry Davies
Replacements: 16 Kellen Gordon, 17 Mike Shepherd, 18 Jake Ilnicki, 19 John Hayden, 20 FP Pelser, 21 Taylor Krumrei, 22 Nakai Penny, 23 Jope Motokana, 24 Scott Dean, 25 George Barton, 26 Suli Tamaivena, 27 Siti Tamaivena, 28 Joey Iosefa, 29 Andrew Durutalo
TASMAN MAKO
1 Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 2 Max Fraine, 3 Sam Matenga, 4 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 5 Antonio Shalfoon, 6 Jacob Norris (capt.), 7 Braden Stewart, 8 Isaiah Miller, 9 Louie Chapman, 10 Campbell Morgan-Parata, 11 Taine Robinson, 12 Michael Stringer, 13 Nick Foxley, 14 Rahiri Witehira, 15 Jamie Spowart
Replacements: 16 Sam Lane, 17 Quinn Harrison-Jones, 18 Matt Graham-Williams, 19 Hopoate Taufa, 20 Max Hicks, 21 Connor Higgins, 22 Tim Sail, 23 Mitchell Barry, 24 Sam Briggs, 25 Jan Lammers, 26 Saul Lewis
Date: Sunday, January 26
Venue: Starfire Stadium, Tukwila
Kickoff: 19:30 local (22:30 Eastern)
Broadcasts: n/a
