Chiefs v Hurricanes: Teams

Table-topping Chiefs will be looking to stay ahead of the pack in Super Rugby action when they tackle wild-card hopefuls Hurricanes.

The Chiefs have lost just once from their opening eight fixtures while the Hurricanes are 10 points behind the leaders with a 4-4 record.

The league leaders got the better of the Sharks 18-12 last weekend while the Hurricanes went down 42-14 to the Crusaders in Wellington.

Chiefs coach David Rennie has included All Blacks scrum-half Brendon Leonard in his starting XV for the game in Hamilton.

Leonard has been out of action since tearing his hamstring in their opening round fixture against the Highlanders and his return is a welcome boost for the table-topping Chiefs who returned to New Zealand earlier this week from a three-week tour to Australia and South Africa.

The No.9 has completed his rehabilitation programme and replaces Tawera Kerr-Barlow in the run-on side.

Other changes to the Chiefs' line sees Tanerau Latimer, Tim Nanai Williams and Hika Elliot coming in for Sam Cane, Asaeli Tikoirotuma and Mahonri Schwalger respectively.

Prop Toby Smith has recovered from a calf injury and will take his place on the replacements bench as cover for the front row.

Full-strength

The match will also be co-captain Craig Clarke's 50th match in Chiefs colours.

Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett has named a full-strength side after welcoming back scrum-half TJ Perenara and wings Cory Jane and Julian Savea following ankle injuries.

Perenara and Jane replace Chris Eaton and Richard Buckman respectively while Savea, who missed the Crusaders clash through illness, returns at the expense of Alapati Leiua.

Hammett has also made some changes on his replacements bench, the most notable being the inclusion of prop Reg Goodes, who is set to make his first appearance of the campaign after missing the opening nine rounds with a shoulder injury.

Loose forward Jack Lam also returns to the bench after he was ruled out of the Crusaders clash due to a concussion suffered against the Sharks two weeks ago.

Chiefs: 15 Andrew Horrell, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Tim Nanai Williams, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Alex Bradley, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke (c), 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Hika Elliott, 1 Arizona Taumalolo.
Replacements: 16 Mahonri Schwalger, 17 Toby Smith, 18 Michael Fitzgerald, 19 Sam Cane, 20 Augustine Pulu, 21 Jackson Willison, 22 Asaeli Tikoirotuma.

Hurricanes: 15 Andre Taylor, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (c), 12 Tim Bateman, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Ben May.
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Reg Goodes, 18 Mark Reddish, 19 Jack Lam, 20 Chris Eaton, 21 Charlie Ngatai, 22 Alapati Leiua.