Chiefs team to face Highlanders announced

The Chiefs have named their team that will face the Highlanders at Waikato Stadium for the second encounter between the two teams this season.

A number of changes have been made to the team that played the Kings last week, with Michael Fitzgerald taking over from Craig Clark, who received a knock to his head last week.

Nick Crosswell will start in the No 8 jersey as Ross Filipo spends the next 8-10 weeks recovering from his MCL injury.  Pauliasi Manu starts at prop while Ben Afeaki moves to the bench.

Richard Kahui is expected make his return after spending time in Japan, and has been named on the bench pending a final confirmation.

“We are expecting a similar battle to our first game against the Highlanders.  It was physical and fast and this week will be nothing less,” said Chiefs coach Dave Rennie.

The match will kick off at 08:35 on Friday, 22 March 2013.

Chiefs team to face Highlanders:

1. Pauliasi Manu, 2. Hika Elliot, 3. Ben Tameifuna, 4. Michael Fitzgerald , 5. Brodie Retallick , 6. Liam Messam (c), 7. Sam Cane, 8. Nick Crosswell, 9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 10. Aaron Cruden, 11. Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 12. Andrew Horrell, 13. Tim Nanai-Williams, 14.Lelia Masaga, 15. Gareth Anscombe
Replacements: 16. Rhys Marshall, 17. Ben Afeaki, 18. Romana Graham/Fritz Lee, 19. Tanerau Latimer, 20. August Pulu, 21. Charlie Ngatai, 22. Richard Kahui/Patrick Osborne