Melbourne Rebels hooker Pat Leafa has replaced Japan international Shota Horie in the starting line-up to face the Hurricanes at AMI Park on Friday, with scrum-half Ben Meehan replacing Nic Stirzaker on the replacements bench.

Leafa, who scored his first try for the club in the 22-16 defeat by the Sharks, has been rewarded for a succession of stong performances off the bench.

"Pat started the season really well for us, and then Shota got in there through weight of performance," McGahan said. "Pat's work off the bench has really given him an opportunity to start now, in what is a really competitive positions, so we're looking for him to turn his impact off the bench into a starting position this week. He's really looking forward to the opportunity." Stirzaker does not know yet how long he will be sidelined.

"It's really unfortunate for Nic, who has been terrific for us since he came back from his first ankle injury," McGahan said. "He's certainly added a lot on and off the field, and was heading in a strong direction for us, so it's a shame.

"Luke [Burgess] has been terrific this season and we're really happy with him, and Benny Meehan comes in and we're looking for him to continue his really strong form off the bench from earlier this season."

Super Rugby-winning former Chiefs prop Toby Smith had hoped to return from a shoulder injury, but McGahan said that Cruze Ah-Nau had "worked exceptionally hard to put himself into a position to break into the 23 and he certainly didn't let anybody down last week" on his starting debut.

Rebels: Jason Woodward ; Male Sau, Tamati Ellison, Mitch Inman , Tom English; Bryce Hegarty, Luke Burgess; Scott Higginbotham (captain), Scott Fuglistaller, Colby Fainga'a; Luke Jones, Cadeyrn Neville; Laurie Weeks, Pat Leafa, Cruze Ah-Nau. Replacements: Shota Horie, Max Lahiff, Paul Alo-Emilie, Hugh Pyle, Sean McMahon, Ben Meehan, Tom Kingston, Angus Roberts.