By CHRIS RATTUE
The Chiefs will put out their best ball-running pack in an effort to upset the Sharks in Durban tomorrow morning.
Sione Lauaki and Wayne Ormond, primarily impact players, will start the match in a vastly re-arranged lineup from the side who lost to the Cats.
Coach Ian Foster denied he had swung the axe in response to the defeat in Johannesburg, but he conceded that certain players, such as No 8 Steven Bates and first five-eighths David Hill, had been off their top games.
From the side who started against the Cats, Sean Hohneck, Bates, Isaac Boss, Hill, Derek Maisey and Todd Miller have made way for Ormond, Lauaki, Byron Kelleher, Glen Jackson, Keith Lowen and Loki Crichton.
Maisey and Miller have not even made the bench.
Lowen, Crichton and Kelleher are returning from injuries, although Kelleher did figure late in last week's match.
The fresh-look Chiefs have significantly more firepower.
Hohneck, Bates, Maisey and Miller all missed vital tackles against the Cats. Foster said this had not directly led to their dropping, although he conceded tackling was a problem area.
"We missed too many across the board and a couple of those turned out to be influential ... That was disappointing," he said.
"There were times last week when Hilly didn't take charge of the game the way we know he can.
"I'm in the envious position of having two very good No 10s and it's time to give Glen a chance.
"In the last couple of weeks Bates has made one or two uncharacteristic mistakes."
The return of Kelleher alone will bring an added buzz to the Chiefs, and if Lowen can find some running form he is still the best attacking centre the Chiefs have.
But the Sharks should continue their winning run, even though they could be missing key forward AJ Venter.
Lock Johann Ackermann, the former Cats and Bulls player who was in Britain last year, is recovered from injury and ready for his Sharks debut. Some claim he is a player favoured by new Springboks coach Jake White.
Ackermann's selection moves Venter - who is looking an increasingly strong test prospect, although probably at loose forward rather than lock - to No 8.
But Venter could be a late withdrawal because of a gash to his leg. He has been outstanding in driving a workmanlike Sharks side towards the semifinals and his loss would be a major blow - and a boost for the Chiefs.
Foster rates the Chiefs and Sharks as similar sides in that they do not have a load of stars.
"The Sharks play with a lot of energy and play for one another. They have won a lot of games in the last 10 minutes, which shows character."
This game will test the character of the Chiefs as they try to end the home side's four-game winning streak.
* Visit nzherald.co.nz throughout the weekend for Super 12 updates.
2004 Super 12 draw, results and points table
New Zealand squads and information
Australian squads
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