The Hurricanes will play the Sunwolves for the first time in Tokyo on Saturday in what will be an historic occasion for the Japan-based Investec Super Rugby club.

As well as being the first time the Sunwolves have played any New Zealand Super Rugby team it will also be the first time the Hurricanes have played a match in Japan.

Hurricanes v Sunwolves by the numbers

20 - TJ Perenara and Beauden Barrett will end their run of 20 consecutive starts as a halfback/first five combination in Tokyo where Barrett will come off the reserves bench.

6 - The number of players in the Hurricanes starting XV against the Sunwolves who also started in last year's Investec Super Rugby final. They are Michael Fatialofa, Brad Shields, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Matt Proctor, and Cory Jane.

50 - Openside Ardie Savea will celebrate his 50th match for the Hurricanes in Tokyo. He made his debut as a flanker against the Waratahs in Wellington on April 6, 2013. Of his 49 matches to date, he's started in 37 appeared as a substitute in 12.

34 - With Ardie on the field his team have won 34 times from 49 matches to date.

10 - Ardie's scored ten tries including two in the match against the Highlanders at Wellington last year.

40 - How many other players have appeared in 50 matches for the Hurricanes.   

8 - The Hurricanes established a new club record for consecutive match victories when they won their last eight matches of 2016 in succession.

3 - The Hurricanes haven't conceded a try in their past three matches dating to before the 2016 playoffs.

1 - The number of wins the Sunwolves had during their first season of Investec Super Rugby in 2016. They beat the competition's other newcomers, the Jaguares, 36-28 in Tokyo.

7 - The Sunwolves lost their first seven matches in Super Rugby, but don't hold the record for the worst start to the competition. That belongs to the Force who lost their first nine matches in 2006, drew their 10th and 11th, then finally got a win in their 12th.

33 - How many tries the Sunwolves managed to score in their first season. Unfortunately they conceded 627 points including 88 tries.

2 - Two players to watch for the Sunwolves against the Hurricanes are second five Derek Carpenter, who scored five tries in 2016, and hooker Shota Horie, who scored three.

17 - The Sunwolves will be the 17th different team the Hurricanes have played and their record in the first match against a club stands at seven wins and nine losses.

24 - Tokyo will be the 24th city around the world in which the Hurricanes have played an Investec Super Rugby match.

The Sunwolves record during their inaugural season of Super Rugby was one win, a draw and 13 losses (see table below)