Corey Flynn gets his first start for Canterbury in this year’s Air New Zealand Cup competition, returning at hooker to play Southland at his old stomping ground of Invercargill.

Flynn, originally from Southland, has played two matches off the bench for Canterbury this season in the home victories against Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay after breaking his right arm while playing for the Crusaders against the Hurricanes in last season’s Super 14.

The 27-year-old, who used to play for the Star club in Invercargill, said he was looking forward to returning south and was expecting a hard time from a Southland forward pack which has performed well all season.

Flynn comes in for Ti’i Paulo, who is on the reserves bench.

In other changes to the Canterbury starting line-up from last Saturday night’s 31-7 win over Hawkes Bay, Colin Slade comes in to first-five for Stephen Brett (quad injury). Hamish Gard starts at second-five, replacing Tim Bateman, who is on the bench.

Captain Kieran Read moves from openside flanker to No8, with Mose Tuiali’i on the bench. George Whitelock and Hayden Hopgood are the openside and blindside flankers, respectively.

James Broadhurst comes in at lock, with Isaac Ross on the bench.

Prop Wyatt Crockett is having a rest and has not been named in the 22 after consistently performing well for Canterbury all season. Peter Borlase comes in at loosehead.

All Black prop Greg Somerville is on the bench, as is Casey Laulala, who is returning to the Canterbury 22 for the first time since breaking his left arm in July.

Canterbury coach Rob Penney has prepared his side for a tough challenge against a Southland side which has played well this season.

"You only have to look at their narrow loss in the Shield game against Auckland to see they are a tough nut to crack," he said. "Their forwards are very competitive all over the park and we never seem to have it easy in Invercargill. The match in 2003 when Southland beat Canterbury 32-26 down there is a good example. They will have an enthusiastic crowd and will be well up for this game."

Southland are fifth on the points table, having beaten Manawatu, Hawkes Bay, Counties-Manukau, North Harbour and Tasman. They only narrowly lost to Otago, Auckland and Bay of Plenty.