Preview: Chiefs primed for confrontation with Blues

Tim Nanai-Williams will be a key attacking weapon for the Chiefs against the Blues tomorrow in New Plymouth. PHOTO/FILE

The Chiefs play their first-ever home game at New Plymouth's Yarrow Stadium against the Blues tonight.

If this fixture does not get both sets of fans excited nothing will, with crucial points in both the New Zealand Conference and overall Super Rugby tables up for grabs.

Not to mention the impending selection of the All Blacks squad to play England next month adding to the simmering intensity.

Murmurs from within the Chiefs camp reveal the team is primed for a huge physical confrontation before they have a well-deserved rest with a bye week to follow.

Chiefs prop Josh Hohneck, who will be on the bench tomorrow night, says as much as they respect the Blues, nothing less than an all-out aggressive approach will do.

"We will approach the Blues like we do everyone. Just try and get in and be brutal, and be as aggressive at the breakdown as we can," Hohneck said.

"They have a really good pack with an all-All Black front row so that is going to be another big challenge for us. It is exciting really to get to test yourself against the best. (Tony Woodcock) is regarded as one of the best props in the world and I certainly would put him up there.

Chiefs: 1. Pauliasi Manu, 2. Nathan Harris, 3. Ben Tameifuna, 4. Michael Fitzgerald, 5. Brodie Retallick, 6. Tanerau Latimer, 7. Sam Cane, 8. Liam Messam , 9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 10. Gareth Anscombe, 11. James Lowe, 12. Bundee Aki, 13. Tim Nanai-Williams, 14. Dwayne Sweeney, 15. Tom Marshall.
Reserves: 16. Mahonri Schwalger, 17. Jamie Mackintosh, 18. Josh Hohneck, 19. Matt Symons, 20. Liam Squire, 21. Brad Weber, 22. Andrew Horrell, 23. Anton Lienert-Brown.

"But I am not going in there on the back foot. I am going to have a real crack at him, but scrummaging as a unit is the main thing, especially with these new rules which are about an eight-man effort and getting your weight all going through working together."

The Chiefs have made two changes to the forwards with Hohneck replaced by Ben Tameifuna and lock Michael Fitzgerald starting. Bundee Aki comes in at second five-eighth and Tim Nanai-Williams moves to centre with Tom Marshall at fullback. Liam Squire, who has returned from injury, and Anton Lienert-Brown are added to the reserves.

In-form Bay of Plenty hooker Nathan Harris gets another start for the Chiefs and joins fellow Steamers Sam Cane, Tanerau Latimer and Brodie Retallick in the pack.

Chiefs coach Dave Rennie says it is exciting to play their first home game in Taranaki.

"I know the boys are keen to earn the respect of the locals by putting on a good performance. Traditionally our games against the Blues have been real ding-dong battles, and with not much between any team in the New Zealand Conference it is a massive game for both sides."

Blues coach John Kirwan has made just one, injury-enforced, change to his starting XV for tomorrow's match.

With midfielder Francis Saili suffering a high ankle sprain in the lead-up to last week's clash with the Reds and Jackson Willison succumbing to a hamstring strain during the game, George Moala has been promoted to start at centre.

"George has played there all year and has done a great job for us so I have no issues at all," Kirwan said.

"One of the positive things was that when we had Francis fall over on Wednesday, Jackson Willison stepped up and he got injured in the first half and then George stepped in and we were pretty seamless which was fantastic."

Kirwan decided to leave captain Luke Braid out rather than risk rushing him back too early.

"For me the biggest decision was around Braidy and whether he was 100 per cent and we've decided that he's about 90 per cent so we're going to give him a rest. It's great having the privilege of Brendon [O'Connor] who is playing incredibly well so that's the nice thing about creating a full squad now. You've got guys that are transitioning in without too much hassle."

- additional reporting APNZ