The 24-strong squad includes eight new caps while former All Black loosie Liam Messam returns to the side for the first time since the 2017 British and Irish Lions tour.
New Highlanders coach Tony Brown has been named to assist Clayton McMillan on the coaching staff.
Among the new caps in the squad are the young midfielders, Billy Proctor of Wellington, Quinn Tupaea of Waikato and Rameka Poihipi of Canterbury and the Bay of Plenty fullback Kaleb Trask.
