By CHRIS RATTUE
Chresten Davis, who was largely unwanted by previous Chiefs' coach John Mitchell, will start the Super 12 season in the middle of the lineout, following the loss of Mark Cooksley.
The 30-year-old Cooksley has been ruled out of the Super 12 with a neck injury, which requires an operation and raises new questions over his injury-hampered career.
The Chiefs have expected Cooksley's withdrawal since before Christmas and the Bay of Plenty captain Mark Weedon has been training with the squad since.
But it is Davis and Keith Robinson, the former Thames Valley man who has joined Waikato via Taranaki, whom coach Kevin Greene is viewing as his specialists in the middle of the lineout.
Robinson is still recovering from a back operation, so it will be Davis who will step into Cooksley's shoes initially. Unlike Cooksley, the 26-year-old Davis is a utility middle-rower who covers the blindside flank.
Greene also has Royce Willis and Kristian Ormsby in his ranks.
Willis had a spell on the blindside for Waikato last year, but Greene sees him as a specialist lock. Ormsby is regarded by the Chiefs as a lock who can cover blindside.
"There was always a distinct possibility that Mark wouldn't come right so we have been prepared for this, and Mark Weedon has fitted in very well,"Greene said. "We're still evaluating where we see him being used.
"Mark [Cooksley] is keen if the surgery succeeds to have another go, but I'm not sure of the time factor. He was still hopeful about the All Blacks, but that has changed now.
"At 30, as a tight forward, he has a few years left, but he will be re-evaluating things now."
Cooksley's neck injury put him out of consideration for the All Blacks' end-of-year tour and a shoulder injury wrecked his test recall.
The Chiefs will give their 28-man squad playing chances in warm-up games against the Blues at Waitakere on February 1 and the Hurricanes in Tauranga six days later.
Greene intends using just a 22-man squad in the final warm-up game against the Highlanders in Oamaru on February 13.
Chiefs ring the lineout changes
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