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While the Hurricanes have options at first five-eighth, they look considerably thinner at lock after losing Warner Dearns and Isaia Walker-Leawere from last season’s squad.

Dearns was a major contributor to their title-winning campaign but was only on a short-term deal, with two seasons remaining on his contract with Japanese club Toshiba Brave Lupus.

Laidlaw said the Hurricanes explored signing another international lock but ultimately opted to invest in younger prospects.

They recruited 2.02m, 20-year-old Dylan Eti from the Chiefs’ wider training group, alongside Alefosio Aho from Moana Pasifika and Hunter Morrison, who impressed for Hawke’s Bay in the NPC.

They join returning locks Caleb Delany and Hugo Plummer, while Highlanders recruit Oli Haig can play both flanker and lock.

“It’s a position that has been left wide open but with Ale, Hunter and Dylan we feel like there’s three players who can come in and grow,” Laidlaw said.

“We’ve got high hopes for Dylan, he’s a real athlete and he’s got a little bit of an edge.”