They may have lost one more All Black than expected, but table toppers Wellington have received a major boost for their NPC semi-final against Waikato on Saturday night

Brad Shields returns from injury after three weeks sidelined and bolsters the Lions, with Peter Lakai off to Japan this week in addition to the expected absences of TJ Perenara, Billy Proctor and Asofa Aumua.

Waikato have retained a similar side - aside from their own All Blacks departures - for the visit to the capital.

Canterbury have similarly made several All Blacks-enforced tweaks to their side to visit Bay of Plenty, while also moving Cullen Grace to the back of the scrum from the bench with Tom Christie coming off the reserves in a reshuffle.

The Steamers will be without the injured Justin Sangster in the second row for the semi-final at Tauranga Domain.

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