Long-serving All Blacks winger Joe Rokocoko was axed as Blues coach Pat Lam put his Super Rugby players on notice to perform or face the consequences.

Lam on Thursday made six personnel changes to his starting 15 against the Hurricanes in Auckland on Saturday night.

Two of the changes were forced by injury, but the others were based on form, with none of the four who have been dropped - Rokocoko among them - finding a place on the bench.

The selection axe comes in the wake of the Blues' somewhat lucky escape with a draw against the Western Force last weekend.

"It's fair to say that for us to be more consistent, we need players to be playing at their best," Lam said.

"Joe and others would be the first to admit that their performance is below par, so there has to be consequences."

The 22-22 result in Perth came after two matches in South Africa and Lam said travel was a factor, but not an excuse.

He said the likes of skipper Keven Mealamu, who scored the try that began a late Blues comeback, and fellow front-rower Tony Woodcock had fronted up against the Force.

But others hadn't and the whole team suffered.

"There were 10 minutes to go and our backs were to the wall and we turned it on and scored 10 points," Lam said.

"It shows that when we want to, we can do it."

Along with Rokocoko, prop Charlie Faumuina, No 8 Chris Lowrey and halfback Toby Morland will also sit out against the Hurricanes.

Coming into the starting 15 are prop John Afoa, lock Kurtis Haiu, flanker Luke Braid, No 8 Peter Saili, halfback Alby Mathewson and first-five eighth Stephen Brett.

Haiu replaces Ali Williams, who is out with a hamstring injury, while Braid comes in for brother Daniel, who is suffering from a sore neck.

In a backline reshuffle, Luke McAlister goes to inside centre and Benson Stanley to the left wing, while Rene Ranger switches flanks to the right wing.

Lam said Brett, who came off the bench and kicked the last-minute penalty against the Force to tie the score, was probably best equipped to guide the Blues around the park.

"The team needs some navigation and Stephen is probably the best navigator in the team."

The clash between the Hurricanes and the Blues pits teams placed third and fourth in the New Zealand conference, with both on 11 points.

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