Chiefs v Lions: Teams

Chiefs coach Dave Rennie has rested some of his stars for Saturday's Super Rugby hit-out with the Lions in Hamilton.

The tournament leaders, on an eight-game winning streak, will take to the field without flank Liam Messam (rib injury), lock Brodie Retallick (rested) and prop Sona Taumalolo (benched).

Sam Cane starts in Messam's place which sees Tanerau Latimer shifting to openside flank and Kane Thompson in at number eight, while Michael Fitzgerald partners captain Craig Clarke in the second row.

Toby Smith gets his first start since his injury in Round One, with try-scoring machine Taumalolo given a well-earned rest on the bench.

Scott Waldrom, Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Maritino Nemani come in on the reserve bench.

Rennie said it was the perfect time to give some players an opportunity to impress.

"As we are only half way into the competition we are using this game to give some players who have not had much game time an opportunity they deserve," he said.

Five changes

Lions head coach John Mitchell has made five changes to his starting line-up for their clash with the Chiefs.

Franco van der Merwe moves to left lock as a replacement for Hendrik Roodt, who drops out the 22, with Ruan Botha coming in at right lock.

Flanker Derick Minnie moves one place over to the openside spot as a replacement for Cobus Grobbelaar, who has been moved to the bench, and Grant Hattingh gets his first start at seven.

Ross Cronje starts at scrum-half ahead of Tian Meyer, who drops to the replacements bench.

Meanwhile, prop Caylib Oosthuizen, who faces a late fitness test, has been pencilled in with JC van Rensburg in the front-row.

Chiefs: 15 Andrew Horrell, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Kane Thompson, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Tanerau Latimer, 5 Michael Fitzgerald, 4 Craig Clarke (c), 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Toby Smith.
Replacements: 16 Mahonri Schwalger, 17 Arizona Taumalolo, 18 Alex Bradley, 19 Scott Waldrom, 20 Tawera Kerr- Barlow, 21 Jackson Willison, 22 Maritino Nemani.

Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Deon Van Rensburg, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Lionel Mapoe, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Joshua Strauss (c), 7 Grant Hattingh, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Franco Van der Merwe, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 Caylib Oosthuizen/JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 CJ Van der Linde, 18 Cobus Grobbelaar, 19 Jaco Kriel, 20 Tian Meyer, 21 James Kamana, 22 Michael Killian.