Damian McKenzie has held off the challenge of his brother Marty to claim the Chiefs No.10 jersey for Saturday's Super Rugby opener against the Blues in Albany.
The teenage playmaker is one of three debutants in the Chiefs starting line-up alongside loose forwards Johan Bardoul and Maama Vaipulu.
Four others - Siate Tokolahi, Michael Allardice, Marty McKenzie and Bryce Heem - will make their first starts from the bench.
Assistant coach Andrew Strawbridge admitted it had been a close run thing choosing between the McKenzie siblings.
"But Damian, at the moment, has got his head around our structures really well. He's shown a fair amount of assertiveness around running our structures and running our forwards around the paddock. So he got the nudge for this week," Strawbridge said.
The Chiefs are without All Blacks Aaron Cruden, Liam Messam and Brodie Retallick, who are being rested for the first round as part of the World Cup player management plan.
But Strawbridge said there was no hesitation in starting Bardoul and Vaipulu with All Black openside Sam Cane against a Blues loose forward trio that features All Blacks Steven Luatua and Jerome Kaino.
"We've got a history now that we've built up over three or four years as coaches of putting our faith in anyone we've selected," Strawbridge said.
"If you're good enough you're old enough."
In the absence of co-captains Cruden and Messam lock Matt Symons will lead the two-time champions.
Despite the number of debutants there is still an experienced look to the Chiefs line-up.
All Blacks Cane and Sonny Bill Williams are starting and halfback Augustine Pulu is ready to provide impact off the bench.
There are also plenty of old hands in props Pauliasi Manu and Ben Tameifuna, hooker Hika Elliot, centre Charlie Ngatai, and outside backs Tim Nanai-Williams and Tom Marshall in the starting 15 and replacement prop Jamie Mackintosh ready to bolster the front row when required.
It will be an emotional moment for Elliot when he runs out at Albany after his career looked to be over following a serious neck injury which required surgery and kept him out of the game for more than a year.
"It's wonderful to have him back," declared Strawbridge. "He's a wonderful man and has worn this jersey proudly for a long time. It's emotional for all of us."
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