Chiefs hopes of securing a Super Rugby quarter‑final hosting rights waned

Chiefs' hopes of securing a Super Rugby quarter‑final hosting rights off the Hurricanes have waned after naming a team well short of full strength.

The teams meet in the final round of the regular season in Hamilton on Friday and will almost certainly square off again in the first round of the play‑offs next week.

Sitting five points clear of their rivals in second place in the New Zealand conference, the Hurricanes are in the box seat.

To leapfrog them, the Chiefs must win by at least 22 points on Friday and snare a bonus point.

Coach Colin Cooper has rested in‑form playmaker Damian McKenzie and has been replaced by his brother Marty.

Also missing from the team is flanker Sam Cane, centre Sean Wainui and hooker Nathan Harris while All Blacks prop Karl Tu'inukuafe is on the bench, along with veteran No.8 Liam Messam.

There are six changes to the pack, including the return of All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick in his first match for six weeks.

The Chiefs will play the Hurricanes at 7.35pm tomorrow.

In other matches tomorrow, the Reds will take on the Sunwolves at 9.45pm.

Chiefs: Solomon Alaimalo, Toni Pulu, Anton Lienert‑Brown, Charlie Ngatai (co‑ capt), Shaun Stevenson, Marty McKenzie, Brad Weber, Jesse Parete, Mitchell Karpik, Lachlan Boshier, Tyler Ardron, Brodie Retallick, Angus Taavao, Liam Polwart, Sam Prattley.

Reserves: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Jeff Thwaites, Michael Allardice, Liam Messam, Lachlan Boshier, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Tiaan Falcon, Jonathan Faauli.

[Source:TVNZ]

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