The Highlanders will welcome back the Otago franchise's favourite son, first-five eighth Marty Banks, for the 2019 Super Rugby season.
Banks is joined by fellow first-fives Bryn Gatland of North Harbour and Josh Ioane of Otago after former All Black Lima Sopoaga's departure for London to play for Wasps.
Banks played a pivotal role in the Highlanders' 2015 Super Rugby championship victory and was outstanding in coming off the bench and leading the Highlanders to a famous win against the British and Irish Lions in 2017.
Gatland and Ioane will likely be fighting it out for the starting No.10 jersey.
Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger has also called into his 38-man squad Waikato props Josh Iosefa-Scott and Ayden Johnstone after their solid season in the Mitre 10 Cup for the Mooloos.
Former Queensland Reds front rower Sef Fa'agase and Tasman hooker Ray Niuia are also inclusions to the front club.
Auckland lock Jack Whetton and Hawke's Bay halfback Folau Fakatava are the other two newbies added.
"We have a well-balanced side with a degree of experience there, we blooded 10 new players last season and I was excited to see the growth in those players during the Mitre 10 competition," said Mauger.
"The initial focus as always will be to execute a good pre-season and bring the team together for what will undoubtedly be another exciting challenge for the 2019 squad."
Highlanders 2019 squad:
Hookers: Liam Coltman, Ash Dixon, Ray Niuia*
Props: Daniel Lienert-Brown, Josh Iosefa-Scott*, Ayden Johnstone*, Siate Tokolahi, Tyrel Lomax, Sef Fa'agase*
Locks: Tom Franklin, Jackson Hemopo, Paripari Parkinson, Josh Dickson, Jack Whetton*
Loosies: Luke Whitelock, Liam Squire, James Lentjes, Dillon Hunt, Marino Mikaele Tu'u, Shannon Frizell, Elliot Dixon
Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, Kayne Hammington, Folau Fakatava*
First-Fives: Bryn Gatland*, Josh Ioane, Marty Banks
Midfielders: Rob Thompson, Patelesio Tomkinson, Teihorangi Walden, Richard Buckman, Matt Faddes, Thomas Umaga-Jensen
Outside Backs: Waisake Naholo, Tevita Li, Tevita Nabura, Josh McKay, Ben Smith
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