Super 14 preview panel for this weekend's round four action (all times AEDT):

FRIDAY, MARCH 7

HIGHLANDERS v HURRICANES at Carisbrook, Dunedin, 5.35pm
Last meeting: Hurricanes 22-21 in Wellington, April 27, 2007

The fifth placed Hurricanes have been hit with injury woes while the winless Highlanders welcome back skipper Craig Newby from a foot problem and five-eighth Daniel Bowden from suspension. Hurricanes All Black forwards Neemia Tialata and Chris Masoe are both out with knee injuries, replaced by Tim Fairbrother at prop and Scott Waldrom at flanker. Fullback Cory Jane has a hip problem, meaning Shannon Paku will wear the No.15. Better news for the Wellington side is the return of Tamati Ellison at inside centre. The Hurricanes have improved each week and thumped the Chiefs 39-19 last start. The rebuilding Highlanders, running 12th, have not been disgraced in any of their three losses but effort won't be enough again this week.
Lasseters: Highlanders $3.25, Hurricanes $1.35
Tip: Hurricanes by 20

Highlanders: James Wilson, Paul Williams, Niva Ta'auso, Johnny Leota, Fetu'u Vainikolo, Daniel Bowden, Jimmy Cowan, Steven Setephano, Alando Soakai, Craig Newby (captain), Tom Donnelly, Isaac Ross, Clint Newland, Jason Macdonald, Jamie Mackintosh. Reserves: David Hall, Keith Cameron, Hoani MacDonald, Adam Thomson, Toby Morland, Michael Delany, Brett Mather.
Hurricanes: Shannon Paku, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Tamati Ellison, Hosea Gear, Jimmy Gopperth, Piri Weepu, Rodney So'oialo (captain), Scott Waldrom, Jerry Collins, Jason Eaton, Craig Clarke, Tim Fairbrother, Andrew Hore, John Schwalger. Reserves: Hikawera Elliot, Jacob Ellison, Jeremy Thrush, Thomas Waldrom, Alby Mathewson, Willie Ripia, Tane Tu'ipulotu

NSW WARATAHS v BRUMBIES at Sydney Football Stadium, 7.40pm
Last meeting: Brumbies 36-10 in Canberra, April 8, 2007

The sixth placed Brumbies are starting to resemble the dismembered knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail - and are showing as much fight. This week's disaster was the revelation experienced fullback Julian Huxley has a brain tumour and will need to sit out the season. Despite six backs on the sidelines, Laurie Fisher's men have refused to go into their shells and, ironically, put on the best performance by an Australian side this year in embarrassing Queensland 43-11 last week. The steady-as-she-goes Waratahs, sitting fourth after two wins, have suffered a blow with the withdrawal of former league star Timana Tahu with a hamstring twinge, but fullback Lachie Turner's shoulder has come good. The Tahs' muscle shouldn't allow the Brumbies youngsters to play the hot potato game they put on last week.
Lasseters: Waratahs $1.31, Brumbies $3.50
Tip: Waratahs by 14

Waratahs: Lachie Turner/Rob Horne, Timana Tahu, Ben Jacobs, Tom Carter, Lote Tuqiri, Kurtley Beale, Brett Sheehan, Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh (captain), Rocky Elsom, Dan Vickerman, Will Caldwell, Matt Dunning, Adam Freier, Sekope Kepu. Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Al Baxter/Dan Palmer, Dean Mumm, Beau Robinson, Luke Burgess, Sam Harris, Alfi Mafi
Brumbies: Mark Gerrard, Peter Playford, Sanualio Afeaki, Tyrone Smith, Francis Fainifo, Christian Lealiifano, Patrick Phibbs, Stephen Hoiles, George Smith (captain), Mitchell Chapman, Mark Chisholm, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Salesi Ma'afu, Saia Faingaa, Nic Henderson. Reserves: Huia Edmonds, Ben Alexander, Peter Kimlin, Julian Salvi, Joshua Holmes, Afusipa Taumoepeau, Tim Wright

SATURDAY, MARCH 8

BULLS v LIONS at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, 4.05am
Last meeting: Bulls 31-7 in Johannesburg, April 21, 2007

Champions the Bulls are finding life at the top can be tough and have slumped to 10th after harsh lessons from the Crusaders and Sharks. Coach Frans Ludeke says there's no need to panic and, against the Lions, he's probably right. The Bulls will be boosted by the returns of World Cup heroes Bakkies Botha and Bryan Habana while Wynand Olivier and debutant Dean Greyling come in for the suspended JP Nel and Jaco Engels. For the ninth placed Lions, Walter Venter replaces injured centre Doppies la Grange while flyhalf Louis Strydom is under a fitness cloud. Lions coach Eugene "Loffie" Eloff had a simple explanation for last week's 18-16 loss to the Western Force: "We were blatantly cheated by a referee which cost us four points," he wrote on the team's website. "But cowboys don't cry." Might be tears in this weekend's high altitude derby though.
Lasseters: Bulls $1.33, Lions $3.35
Tip: Bulls by 10

Bulls: Zane Kirchner; Akona Ndungane, Wynand Olivier, Morne Steyn, Bryan Habana, Derick Hougaard, Fourie du Preez (captain), Pedrie Wannenburg, Wikus van Heerden, Danie Rossouw, Bakkies Botha, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Rayno Gerber, Derick Kuun, Gurthro Steenkamp. Reserves: James van der Walt, Werner Kruger, Dean Greyling, Deon Stegmann, Dewald Potgieter, Heini Adams, Stephan Dippenaar
Lions: Louis Ludik, Dusty Noble, Jaco Pretorius, Walter Venter, Ryno Benjamin, Louis Strydom/Jaco van Schalkyk, Jano Vermaak, Joe van Niekerk, Ernst Joubert (captain), Cobus Grobbelaar, Willem Stoltz, Gerhard Mostert, Ross Geldenhuys, Willie Wepener, Heinke van der Merwe. Reserves: Ethienne Reynecke, JC Janse van Rensburg, Anton van Zyl, Willem Alberts, Chris Jonck, van Schalkwyk/Rudi Vogt, Jannie Boshoff

CHIEFS v CHEETAHS at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, 5.35pm
Last meeting: 22-22 in Bloemfontein, March 2, 2007

Chiefs coach Ian Foster has made seven changes following last week's drubbing by the Hurricanes which left his side 11th, naming Mils Muliaina as captain in place of the injured Jono Gibbes. Muliaina also shifts from centre to fullback while halfback Brendon Leonard is back from a bruised thigh. Tom Harding and Faifili Levave are the starting flankers while lock Toby Lynn and prop Ben May get starts for the first time this season. The 13th placed Cheetahs got walloped 50-26 at home by the Blues last week and have travelled halfway around the globe to begin their Australasian leg. Their defence will need to improve exponentially because their attack doesn't have a knack of piling on the points.
Lasseters: Chiefs $1.15, Cheetahs $5.50
Tip: Chiefs by 25

Chiefs: Mils Muliaina (captain), Sosene Anesi, Dwayne Sweeney, Callum Bruce, Sitiveni Sitivatu, Stephen Donald, Brendon Leonard, Sione Lauaki, Tom Harding, Faifili Levave, Kevin O'Neill, Toby Lynn, Ben May, Tom Willis, Simms Davison. Reserves: Vern Kamo, Ben Castle, Hayden Hopgood, Liam Messam, Tanerau Latimer, David Bason, Lelia Masaga.
Cheetahs: Hennie Daniller; Eddie Fredericks, JW Jonker, Meyer Bosman, Jongi Nokwe; Conrad Barnard, Noel Oelschig; Duanne Vermeulen, Darron Nell, Heinrich Brussouw, Barend Pieterse, Rory Duncan (captain), Kobus Calldo, Adriaan Strauss, Wian du Preez. Reserves: Richard Strauss, Ronnie Uys, David de Villiers, Hendro Scholtz, Tobie Botes, Tewis de Bruyn, Hendrik Meyer.

QUEENSLAND REDS v STORMERS at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 8.05pm
Last meeting: Stormers 37-24 in Cape Town, April 28, 2007

Queensland rugby pride goes on the line as the Reds seek to bounce back from a humiliating loss to the undermanned Brumbies last week. The eighth-placed Reds have a good opportunity to right the ship at home against the winless Stormers, although the South Africans' 22-0 loss to the rampaging Crusaders last week probably wasn't too bad a result. Reds coach Phil Mooney has made seven changes, including the benching of Wallabies front-rowers Rodney Blake and Stephen Moore and the return of experienced halfback Sam Cordingley. Stormers hooker Tiaan Liebenberg is out with a thigh strain while forward leader Schalk Burger is still suspended. The Reds' season depends on this one.
Lasseters: Reds $1.45, Stormers $2.75
Tip: Reds by 10

SUNDAY, MARCH 9

SHARKS v BLUES at Absa Stadium, Durban, 4.10am
Last meeting: Sharks 34-18 in Durban, semi-final, May 12, 2007

The match of the round between two unbeaten sides and a re-match of one of last year's semi-finals. The table topping Blues have sprung out of the blocks and piled on the points in 2008, while the third placed Sharks are making good on predictions they'd be South Africa's best side this year. That was given momentum by the Durban side's 29-15 avenging of last year's final loss to the Bulls in Pretoria last week. The Sharks have also been a bogey side for the Blues - who haven't won in Durban since 2004 - and have beaten the Aucklanders six times from 10 matches, including the last three. Still, David Nucifora's side deservedly start favourites and nothing looks like stopping their steamroll through the competition.
Lasseters: Sharks $3.15, Blues $1.37
Tip: Blues by 20

Sharks: N/A
Blues: Ben Atiga, Anthony Tuitavake, Isaia Toeava, Benson Stanley, Joe Rokocoko, Nick Evans, Danny Lee, Nick Williams, Justin Collins, Jerome Kaino, Troy Flavell (captain), Kurtis Haiu, John Afoa, Kven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Tom McCartney, Bronson Murray, Bryn Evans, Onosai Tololima-Auva'a, Taniela Moa, Rudi Wulf, George Pisi.

WESTERN FORCE v CRUSADERS at Subiaco Oval, Perth, 7.10pm
Last meeting: Crusaders 53-0 in Christchurch, April 7, 2007

Australian rugby fans' grins grow wider with every Robbie Deans triumph - perhaps apart from those in Perth this week. Deans' second placed Crusaders haven't been troubled by the Brumbies, Bulls, Stormers or ELVs in 2008, although the Force will be desperate to wipe last year's demolition job from their memories. The seventh placed Force eked out two wins from three on their South African jaunt but have been far from convincing in the wake of the Matt Henjak sacking. Star five-eighth Matt Giteau comes up against All Black champion Dan Carter in what could be the beginning of a long rivalry at Super 14 and Test level. Deans says he won't be watching Giteau. No, really. Not even a little bit.
Lasseters: Force $4.60, Crusaders $1.20
Tip: Crusaders by 20

Force: Cameron Shepherd, Scott Staniforth, Ryan Cross, Lachlan Mackay, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Chris O'Young, Richard Brown, David Pocock, Tamaiti Horua, Nathan Sharpe, Tom Hockings, AJ Whalley, Tai McIsaac, Gareth Hardy.
Res: Luke Holmes, Troy Takiari, Sam Wykes, Matt Hodgson, James Stannard, Scott Daruda, Josh Tatupu.
Crusaders: Leon MacDonald, Scott Hamilton, Casey Laulala, Stephen Brett, Caleb Ralph, Daniel Carter, Andrew Ellis, Mose Tuialii, Richard McCaw (captain), Kieran Read, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Corey Flynn, Ben Franks. Res: Tii Paulo, Wyatt Crockett, Reuben Thorne, Nasi Manu, Kahn Fotualii, Tim Bateman, Sean Maitland.

AAP