After a hard-fought triumph over the Crusaders in Round 2, the Chiefs have named a side to face the Highlanders in their first home game of the 2014 Super Rugby season.
The Chiefs coaches have been consistent in their process of giving players a start when depth prevails which will see Pauliasi Manu start at prop and Jamie Mackintosh move to the pine.
Mahonri Schwalger will make his long-awaited return to rugby since sitting out the 2013 ITM Cup.
Lock Matt Symons and flanker Nick Crosswell come into the starting lineup, joined by Tanerau Latimer with Liam Messam moving into the No. 8 spot.
Tawera Kerr-Barlow has recovered from a rolled ankle to start at scrumhalf while the backline remains the same.
After blooding seven new players last week – including five Super Rugby debutants – the Chiefs will increase that number with Liam Squire earning his chance to debut off the bench. New additions to the reserves this week are hooker Rhys Marshall, prop Josh Hohneck and Tevita Koloamatangi.
Chiefs Coach Dave Rennie said, “I was really impressed with the passion and the physicality that the Highlanders played with last week. I really felt they out muscled and out enthused the Blues, so it will be another entertaining New Zealand derby match on Saturday night.”
Chiefs: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Tim Nanai-Williams, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden (Captain), 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Liam Messam, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Nick Crosswell, 5 Matt Symons, 4 Michael Fitzgerald, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Mahroni Schwalger, 1 Pauliasi Manu
Replacements: 16 Rhys Marshall, 17 Jamie Mackintosh, 18 Josh Hohneck, 19 Tevita Koloamatangi, 20 Liam Squire, 21 Brad Webber, 22 Andrew Horrell, 23 James Lowe.