Dermody has made no fewer than seven changes to the starting squad to play the in-form Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday in their latest Super Rugby Pacific round robin clash.
After being named most valuable player at the Highlanders Awards last night, Timoci Tavatavanawai was rested this week – missing his first game of the entire season – alongside quality full-back Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.
The move gives young Finn Hurley his first start at wing-back and will be supported on the outside by Jona Nareki and Connor Garden-Bachop.
Matt Whaanga gets his chance in the middle to join Sam Gilbert in fifth, and Ajay Faleafaga retains the number 10 jersey.
James Arscott will get only his second start of the season at halfback in place of Folau Fakatava, who will inject a lot off the bench.
Flanker Sean Withy, who has played some big minutes this season, Oliver Haig and Mitch Dunshea have also been left out of Gameday 23.
It meant a reshuffle of the loose forwards, with Nikora Broughton coming in at number 8, Billy Harmon – named co-captain alongside Ethan de Groot – on the open side and Max Hicks packing on the blind side.
Big Fabian Holland will pack with Will Tucker at lock and the front row remains stable in de Groot, Henry Bell and Jermaine Ainsley.
Young flanker Hayden Michaels is also in line to make his Highlanders debut from the bench.
With the team in seventh place and having already secured a place in the play-offs, Dermody said this was a good chance to rest players who have had a heavy workload this season.
''I think it will be important in the longer term and that gives us the opportunity to give guys a chance to prepare for the play-offs,'' Dermody said.
They will be full of confidence after an impressive 39-3 win against Fijian side Drua last weekend.
“I am very pleased with the way we executed our plan against the Drua.
“We need to continue to build on that progress and the players who have come into the starting XV are clear about their roles, allowing us to rest the likes of Timoci, Sean and Jacob.”
Highlanders team to play the Hurricanes
Finn Hurley, Connor Garden-Bachop, Matt Whaanga, Sam Gilbert, Jona Nareki, Ajay Faleafaga, James Arscott, Nikora Broughton, Billy Harmon, Max Hicks, Fabian Holland, Will Tucker, Jermaine Ainsley, Henry Bell, Ethan de Groot. Reserves: Jack Taylor, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Saulua Ma'u, Tom Sanders, Hayden Michaels, Folau Fakatava and Martin Bogado.