Chiefs v Highlanders: Teams
The Chiefs welcome New Zealand rivals the Highlanders to Waikato Stadium on Saturday for a must-win derby battle.
Last Updated: 07/05/11 12:08pm
The Chiefs welcome New Zealand rivals the Highlanders to Waikato Stadium on Saturday for a must-win derby battle.
The Chiefs showed some of the form that got them to the 2009 final during a tough tour of South Africa as they beat the Lions before narrowly losing out to defending champions the Bulls.
Saturday's match in Hamilton is indeed last-chance saloon for Ian Foster's men, who occupy last place in the New Zealand Conference and 11th on the overall ladder.
But winning the rest of their games won't be enough and they will need other results to go their way if the Chiefs are to stand a realistic chance of making the top six.
Whilst the Highlanders aren't in the same sinking boat, the southerners can ill-afford another loss either following last week's 20-15 defeat to the Blues at home.
Currently third in the New Zealand Conference and fifth overall, the Highlanders had a poor game against the Blues but at least were able to bag a losing bonus point - and at this stage of the tournament every point counts.
The visitors from Dunedin will also hold the phycological advantage entering this match, having got the better of the Chiefs in the last meeting between the two sides in Round Two of the competition.
Chiefs: 15 Mils Muliaina (c), 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Dwayne Sweeney, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Scott Waldrom, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Romana Graham, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Toby Smith.
Replacements: 16 Aled de Malmanche, 17 Sona Taumalolo, 18 Isaac Ross, 19 Tanerau Latimer, 20 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 21 Tim Nanai-Williams, 22 Jackson Willison.
Highlanders: 15 Robbie Robinson, 14 Kade Poki, 13 Kendrick Lynn, 12 Ben Smith, 11 Siale Piutau, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Chris King, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Jamie Mackintosh (capt)
Replacements: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Tom Donnelly, 19 Nick Crosswell, 20 Aaron Smith, 21 Matt Saunders, 22 James Paterson.
