An access device for accessing an intervertebral disc having an outer shield comprising an access shield with a larger diameter (~16-30 mm) that reaches from the skin down to the facet line, with an inner shield having a second smaller diameter (~5-12mm) extending past the access shield and reaches down to the disc level. This combines the benefits of the direct visual microsurgical/mini open approaches and the percutaneous, "ultra-MIS" techniques.