Concussion will keep Brodie Retallick sidelined for at least another week, but the Chiefs welcome back key midfielder Charlie Ngatai for Friday's Super Rugby clash with the Hurricanes.
All Black lock Retallick has had headaches since last weekend's win over the NSW Waratahs and will be replaced by Michael Allardice, who is starting his first game for the Chiefs in almost a year.
The lock came off the bench against the Waratahs.
Ngatai will be a huge boost to the Chiefs' midfield, also recovering only recently from concussion issues.
He will be joined in the midfield by All Black Anton Lienert-Brown and they will face the in-form Hurricanes duo Vince Aso and Ngani Laumape.
Injuries to Toni Pulu (hamstring) and Tim Nanai-Williams (ankle) have also opened the door for Solomon Alaimalo to have another start on the wing for the Chiefs.
The match will mark James Lowe's 50th game for the franchise. The winger is heading to Ireland at the end of the season to take up a three-year contract with Leinster.
With the Crusaders having cemented first place, the Hurricanes and Chiefs are fighting it out for the first wildcard qualifier position.
CHIEFS:
Kane Hames, Nathan Harris, Nepo Laulala, Dominic Bird, Michael Allardice, Mitchell Brown, Sam Cane (co-capt), Liam Messam, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Aaron Cruden (co-capt), James Lowe, Charlie Ngatai, Anton Lienert-Brown, Solomon Alaimalo, Damian McKenzie.
Res: Liam Polwart, Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, Atu Moli, Tom Sanders, Lachlan Boshier, Finlay Christie, Alex Nankivell, Shaun Stevenson.
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