Highlanders v Chiefs: Teams
Both the Highlanders and the Chiefs enjoyed first wins of the season last week.
Last Updated: 13/03/09 10:50am
Two sides who have not tasted glory for some time, both of who grabbed their first win last week, both of who palpably possess enough talent to be dark horses in this competition.
One of them - barring a draw - will be played five, lost four after this, a negative record likely to be insurmountable when it comes to semi-final aspirations. It is a crunch match for both sides.
Johnny Leota's return will be a priceless source of go-forward ball for the Highlanders in midfield, with options not in short supply outside him despite the injury concerns over Israel Dagg. The recall of Tim Boys and Steven Setephano into the loose trio will inject some fresh energy as well - they'll need it.
The Chiefs' front row was criticised pre-season as a weakness but after the first two rounds the scrum and pack has got its act together, a key factor in last week's defeat of the Force.
They'll be grateful to have Mils Muliaina back but that will be tempered by the loss of Sitiveni Sivivatu who was brilliant, and after four energetic games from the base of the scrum, Brendon Leonard is rested as well.
A lot will depend once again on the Chiefs' loose trio, whose ability to stem the flow of possession out wide to the home side's dangerous backs could turn the game one way or the other as it did last week.
Highlanders: Highlanders: 15 Israel Dagg/Ben Smith, 14 Ben Smith/Kendrick Lynn, 13 Jason Shoemark, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10 Daniel Bowden, 9 Jimmy Cowan (C), 8 Steven Setephano, 7 Tim Boys, 6 Adam Thomson,5 Hayden Triggs, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Clint Newland, 2 David Hall,1 Chris King.
Replacements: 16 Jason Rutledge, 17 Anthony Perenise, 18 Tom Donnelly, 19 George Naoupu, 20 Sean Romans, 21 Matthew Berquist, 22 Kendrick Lynn/Jayden Hayward.
Chiefs: 15 Mils Muliaina (c), 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Jackson Willison, 11 James Wilson, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Toby Morland, 8 Liam Messam, 7 Serge Lilo, 6 Tanerau Latimer, 5 Kevin O'Neill, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 Ben May, 2 Aled de Malmanche, 1 Sona Taumalolo.
Replacements: 16 Hika Elliot, 17 Joe McGougan, 18 Mark Burman, 19 Sione Lauaki/Colin Bourke, 20 Brendon Leonard, 21 Mike Delany, 22 Dwayne Sweeney.
