KEY POINTS:
The Chiefs are entitled to wonder who they've offended Upstairs this year after two more additions to a groaning injury list.
Just when they might have figured things were on the mend, reconditioning All Black Mils Muliaina broke a bone in his foot in his first game of
the year on Tuesday and is gone for the rest of the Super 14; and flanker and stand-in captain Steven Bates has sprained an ankle and is out of tomorrow night's match against the Lions in Hamilton.
Their winless campaign has been nobbled partly by a pile of injuries to key players, including captain Jono Gibbes, centre Richard Kahui and utility back Sosene Anesi, while forwards Sione Lauaki and Keith Robinson missed the first three matches.
Both were yesterday named in the Chiefs line-up but most interest was in the choice of Tasesa Lavea at second five-eighth. The Blues No 10 for the last three years returns after only 20 minutes off the bench in the opening round against the Brumbies before damaging a medial ligament.
He will team up with Stephen Donald and regular second five-eighth Tane Tuipulotu moves out one spot to centre.
"They've looked quite nice training together this week," assistant coach Warren Gatland said of the Donald-Lavea axis.
"We're just looking for a bit more experience in the backline and Tasesa brings that."
The likelihood is the pair will switch roles at times during the match.
Coach Ian Foster has made three changes from the side which drew 22-all with the Cheetahs a fortnight ago. Along with Lavea coming into a rejigged backline for Niva Ta'auso, Brendan Leonard replaces Jamie Nutbrown at halfback and Kristian Ormsby comes in at lock for Toby Lynn.
The mood remains positive in the camp, Gatland talking of a meeting with the senior players this week to gauge their feelings after a tough opening five weeks. The gist of the chat was whether anything should be drastically changed to pep things up.
"And the feeling among everyone was: 'Let's just keep trucking along. We're not far away.' The bottom line is we need a win, because with that comes a little bit of confidence and self belief."
The Lions, sixth on the table and coming off a 41-14 pounding from the Blues, have made four changes.
Jaco van Schalkwyk replaces Earl Rose at fullback; Wylie Human is back on the wing, with Jaco Pretorius moving to centre in place of Doppies La Grange; Jano Vermaak is in at halfback for Ricky Januarie and Willem Alberts replaces Cobus Grobler at lock.
* The second-placed Sharks have made two changes for their match against the Hurricanes in Durban on Sunday. Captain and hooker John Smit goes to the bench, to be replaced by Bismarck du Plessis, and Warren Britz joins the loose forward trio, with Ryan Kankowski bracketed on the bench with Bob Skinstad.
* Even with regular captain and test lock Victor Matfield getting a spell on the bench, the Bulls have named 12 Springboks in their starting 15 to face the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday night. The three uncapped players are centre Marius Delport, lock Francois van Schouwenburg and prop Danie Thiart.
* The Stormers have two changes for their clash with the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday. Fullback Brent Russell replaces Gio Aplon and prop Brok Harris comes in for the injured Eddie Andrews.
CHIEFS V LIONS
Hamilton, 7.35pm tomorrow
CHIEFS
Dwayne Sweeney
Lelia Masaga
Tane Tuipulotu
Tasesa Lavea
Roy Kinikinilau
Stephen Donald
Brendon Leonard
Liam Messam
Marty Holah
Sione Lauaki
Keith Robinson
Kristian Ormsby
Nathan White
Tom Willis (c)
Simms Davison
LIONS
J. van Schalkwyk
Louis Ludik
Jaque Fourie
Jaco Pretorius
Wylie Human
A. Pretorius (c)
Jano Vermaak
Jacques Cronje
Ernst Joubert
C. Grobbelaar
Anton van Zyl
Willem Alberts
Brian Mujati
Willie Wepener
H. van der Merwe
Chiefs: Aled de Malmanche, Ben Castle, Toby Lynn, Tanerau Latimer, Jamie Nutbrown, Niva Ta'auso, Jared Payne
Lions: Ethienne Reynecke, Bertus Smit, Gordon Gilfillan, Franco van der Merwe, Ricky Januarie, Louis Strydom, Jannie Boshoff