Marty McKenzie will have the first shot at filling Aaron Cruden's boots, being named at first five for the Chiefs' encounter with the Western Force on Friday night.
With Cruden on Monday ruled out for the season with a knee injury, Chiefs coach Dave Rennie had a number of optionsto try at No10.
And Taranaki pivot McKenzie has earned the opening chance, beating out competition from younger brother Damian and Andrew Horrell, who impressed after replacing Cruden against the Crusaders.
The injured All Black is not the only senior man missing from the Chiefs team. Captain Liam Messam will be absent due to the agreed All Blacks rest requirements, replaced by Johan Bardoul at blindside flanker with Matt Symons assuming the captaincy.
James Lowe was ruled out after suffering a contusion on his shoulder during the Crusaders match, seeing Tim Nanai-Williams moving to the left wing and Bryce Heem coming into the team on the right.
Prop Siate Tokolahi gets a start in the front row, with Ben Tameifuna moving to the bench, bringing to five the total changes from last week's Crusaders victory.
"You look at it a few ways," Rennie said of his selection to face the last-placed Force. "We're looking at picking a side that we believe will beat the Force but sometimes you've got to bring a bit of edge
"The guys who played last weekend, obviously you get up for those Crusaders games, they're big challenges. We've got other guys who want to come in and make a bit of a statement to say they're still here and ready to go."
Chiefs team to play the Western Force on Friday night:
1. Mitchell Graham 2. Hika Elliot 3. Siate Tokolahi 4. Matt Symons (c) 5. Brodie Retallick 6. Johan Bardoul 7. Sam Cane 8. Michael Leitch 9. Brad Weber 10. Marty McKenzie 11. Tim Nanai-Williams 12. Sonny Bill Williams 13. Charlie Ngatai 14. Bryce Heem 15. Tom Marshall
Reserves: 16. Quentin MacDonald 17. Pauliasi Manu 18. Ben Tameifuna 19. Michael Fitzgerald 20. Liam Squire 21. Augustine Pulu 22. Damian McKenzie 23. Andrew Horrell
