David Leggat: Only the max will do for Chiefs now

The personnel and the opposition are different but Ian Foster's message to his Chiefs team will have a seriously familiar ring to it before tonight's match against the Cheetahs in Hamilton.

They're seventh on the Super 14 ladder, six points off the fourth playoff spot but still in the frame - just as long as the wins keep coming, and preferably with bonus points.

In their past three games, the Chiefs have won twice and drawn once, but there have been no four-try bonus points, which could be the difference in the final washup.

But Foster isn't sweating on those extras just yet. "What is essential is winning, and our simple focus is on that," he said. "We are only six points behind the Brumbies and they have some tough games ahead.

"We have got to secure the points for winning and if we win all our remaining games we have a chance of making it."

Their last three opponents are the Hurricanes away, Waratahs home and Blues away. Five points would seem a must tonight.

If the Chiefs make the semifinals, they'll have to do it without their most damaging ball runner, No 8 Sione Lauaki, who has surgery next week to repair a torn pectoral muscle. Lauaki has been ruled out of all rugby for at least three months. "It's very disappointing," Foster said.

"We don't like losing anyone and it's hard on a guy who's put so much effort in the competition so far but it's the nature of the game these days."

Foster is not short of replacement options but, for tonight, he's given the job to promising Liam Messam.

Messam was blindside flanker last week and will be part of an adjusted loose forward trio, with experienced Marty Holah back, Kristian Ormsby introduced at No 6 and the hardworking Steven Bates getting a spell on the bench.

"Liam had his first start of the season last week and we were pretty pleased with his game and thought he deserved the chance," Foster said.

The Chiefs have reijigged several areas from the so-so performance in beating the Stormers 30-20 last week. Aleki Lutui and Nathan White come into the front row; Jamie Nutbrown gets another chance in place of Byron Kelleher; and Sean Hohneck joins captain Jono Gibbes at lock, with Bernie Upton dropping to the bench.

Ebullient wing Anthony Tahana, who came off the bench to bag two tries against the Stormers, starts on one wing, with Sosene Anesi switching to fullback in place of Mils Muliaina, who is sidelined by a groin injury.

The Cheetahs, newcomers to the competition this season, surprised many by going on a three-game winning streak to briefly hint at finishing the best of the South African franchises.

However three successive hefty defeats, twice conceding 50 points, has them sitting 10th. They've got some decent players but lack sufficient quality throughout the squad.

There's a familiar face for Chiefs fans tonight, with Keith Lowen lining up at second five-eighths in his first start for three weeks.

Lowen, a Chief as recently as last season, played 50 times for the franchise before switching to the Cheetahs.

"One thing's for sure, we're pretty familiar with his game," Foster quipped.

The most interesting of five changes to the Cheetahs team concerns the loose forwards. Coach Rassie Erasmus has moved lock Barend Pieterse to flank while the lively Kabamba Floors is back, pointing to a desire to sharpen their work at the breakdown.