Dan Carter's Blues debut stopped by minor calf injury

All Blacks legend Dan Carter's debut for Blues will be delayed after he was withdrawn from the matchday squad following a calf injury.

Carter, who holds the record for most points scored in international rugby in the history of the game was set to be named on the bench when Blues face Hurricanes on Saturday but suffered a minor injury during the training leading to the game. His place on the bench is now being taken by Matt Duffie.

Blues coach Leon MacDonald has made three changes to the line-up Kurt Eklund and Aaron Carroll replacing injured duo of James Parsons and Blake Gibson while Emoni Narawa takes the place of Caleb Clarke.

Blues are positioned second in the Super Rugby Aotearoa table with three wins from four games with their only defeat coming against Crusaders last weekend.

Blues starting line-up: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Harry Plummer, 11 Mark Telea, 10 Otere Black, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Aaron Carroll, 5 Josh Goodhue, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Ofa Tuungafasi, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Alex Hodgman

Reserves: 16 Tolai Luteru, 17 Marcel Renata, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 20 Tony Lamborn, 21 Jonathan Ruru, 22 TJ Faiane, 23 Matt Duffie