Blues coach Vern Cotter is not keen on doing anything dramatically different as his side heads into this Friday night’s Super Rugby Pacific semi-final against the Brumbies.

He has made only one change, with Sam Darry starting at lock for the injured Patrick Tuipulotu, with James Thompson coming onto the bench.

Tuipulotu’s absence, due to a knee injury suffered in last weekend’s 36-5 quarter-final victory over the Fijian Drua, means Dalton Papali’i will captain the side.

Papali’i starts at openside, however there is a question mark over the fitness of blindside Akira Ioane.

Cotter said the 21-test All Black would be monitored before a final decision would be made.

Friday night will be a rematch of a memorable semi-final between the two sides that took place in 2022.

The Blues were cruising with a 20-7 lead with 20 minutes to play, before two Brumbies tries closed the gap up to 20-19.

A drop goal attempt by Noah Lolesio as time expired was charged down by Ofa Tu’ungafasi to seal a dramatic win for the Blues.