Chiefs plan to throw spanner in works

The Chiefs can foot-trip the Highlanders' hopes for a semifinal spot in Hamilton tonight, and in the process give themselves a resounding pat on the back.

Victory for the Chiefs would save the Highlanders having to sit up in the early hours of tomorrow chewing their fingernails. Being courteous types, that's what they'll try to do.

If the Highlanders win, they must wait until the outcome of the Bulls match against the Stormers in Pretoria. A Bulls win means they make the playoffs; a Bulls loss, coupled with a Highlanders win, means the Otago franchise are in business next weekend.

Rest assured Greg Cooper and his Highlanders team will happily settle for a long night in front of the square box if that's required.

A glance down the Chiefs line-up shows only six survivors from the opening round back on February 25 in Sydney.

Of those, just four are in the same positions - Mark Ranby, who has been in and out during the campaign, and the core of the pack, Steven Bates, Marty Holah and captain Jono Gibbes.

A victory tonight will mean the Chiefs have roared home with four wins, a narrow loss to the Bulls and a draw against the Brumbies last weekend, in their last six games for a highly satisfying run-in.

"In the last four or five weeks I've been really pleased with the way we're tracking," coach Ian Foster said. "Our second 40 minutes against the Brumbies was very strong. We just missed a couple of vital tackles and got caned for it.

"But overall there are some good signs and we would just like to finish it off, complete the progress we've made."

There will be a sentimental touch with a farewell appearance by prop Michael Collins, who will play his 82nd game for the Chiefs since making his debut in 1997. He is off to join London Irish.

Collins will have his hands full against All Black tighthead Carl Hayman. Hayman is in excellent form and has anchored a powerful frontrow all season with Carl Hoeft, who plays his 98th Super 12 game for the southerners tonight.

Loosehead Hoeft, a real ironman who made his debut in 1997, has gone about the business of closing in on 100 impressively but less spectacularly than New Zealand's three Super 12 centurions, Anton Oliver, Justin Marshall and Tana Umaga.

The Highlanders have been whacked by injuries.

The pack, albeit minus Oliver, looks good, while the backline is missing regulars Ben Blair and Anthony Tuitavake, and coach Greg Cooper has brought in Jimmy Cowan at halfback in place of Danny Lee.

* Chiefs vs Highlanders, Hamilton, 7.35 tonight