Super Rugby Pacific Round 2 line-ups, verdicts, odds, everything you need to know for the weekend

The Super Rugby Pacific got off to an entertaining start last week. The Drua lost to the Waratahs 40-10, Crusaders, Chiefs and Reds won on Saturday, and Brumbies won a thriller on Sunday. This week's action is highlighted by two of the biggest provincial rivalries in the southern hemisphere. Highlanders and Crusades meet in Dunedin, while the Reds host the Watsons in Sydney.

Super Rugby Pacific Round 2 starts on Friday, February 25.

Highlanders have won the first game of the Super Rugby Pacific Round 2. They have lost the second game.

Crusaders are without Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Braydon Ennor, David Havili, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Fergus Burke, Mitchell Drummond, Cullen Grace, Tom Christie, Pablo Matera, Scott Barrett (c), Sam Whitelock, Oli Jager, Brodie McAlister, Joe Moody.

The Waratahs and Reds are playing each other in Super Rugby Pacific Round 2. The Warats won the first game 40-10. Highlanders lost their first match in Queenstown. Crusaders beat the Hurricanes. The Highlands lost to the Chiefs. New Zealand is under COVID restrictions. Pumas recruit Pablo Matera will play. Leicester Fainga'anuku scored a hat trick against the Canes last week. Warattahs won last game. Reds made 41 more tackles than their opponents. They won.

Brumbies beat Force last week. Drua lost to last year's cellar-dwellers. Brumbie's coach Dan McKellar has tried to shore up his lineout. DruA lost by 30 to the expansion franchise. Blues lost last game by the same margin. They lost the game to Zarn Sullivan. The Brumies won last season's Pacific Rugby Championship. Blue's won the competition. Their last victory was against the Force. It was a close game. Blues lost against last years cellar team.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck made his debut for the Blues this weekend. Beauden Barrett is still out injured for Leon MacDonald's team. The Hurricanes will have the benefit of last week's hit-out against the Crusaders. The Rebels are also without captain Dalton Papali'i and back-rower Akira Ioane. They finished strongly in the match, but lost. It's a game the Hurricanes fancy their chances in. Blues are favourites. Their forwards are Caleb Clarke and Rieko Ioana. Rebels have Reece Hodge, Lachie Anderson, Stacey Ili, Raymond Nu'u, Glen Vaihu, Matt To'omua, Joe Powell, Michael Wells, Brad Wilkin, Sam Wallis, Ross Haylett-Petty, Jordan Uelese, Cameron Orr.