New Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett has named four debutants for the Super rugby season opener against the Highlanders in Wellington on Friday.

Taranaki tighthead prop Michael Bent starts ahead of the vastly experienced Neemia Tialata, while rookie flankers Mark Reddish and Jack Lam make up the loose forward trio, and 20-year-old Julian Savea will debut on the wing.

Savea and halfback Tyson Keats are the only non-All Blacks in the Hurricanes intimidating backline.

Hammett is confident his rookies will rise to the challenge of Super rugby.

"It's a great opportunity to start, and we've got faith in them, otherwise we wouldn't do it," he said.

"That's how we select our teams - you've got to have faith in the guys that they're able to perform at Super rugby level."

Hammett believes the Hurricanes newcomers have a great chance to stake an early claim for a permanent berth in the starting line-up.

"It's about winning spots, and when you've got this jersey on you work damn hard in it. This is the first group that gets this opportunity, so they need to take it," Hammett said.

Hammett said Bent and Reddish had impressed in pre-season matches against the Chiefs, Blues and Brumbies.

"They work as hard going forward as going backwards, and I like the fact that if they get hit with a bit of adversity, they'll keep coming," he said.

The coach has no concerns about the lack of a specialist lock on bench, having gone with two loose forwards in Faifili Levave and Serge Lilo.

Lam made the most of his pre-season opportunities, with incumbent Karl Lowe out following knee surgery and Serge Lilo battling a couple of niggling injuries.

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