Ringing the changes at injury-hit Chiefs

By CHRIS RATTUE

The Chiefs farewell their home fans for the season tomorrow night, but spectators might struggle to recognise their team, especially if coach Kevin Greene uses his bench extensively.

The shifting of Regan King to the wing is the first major talking point of the lower-table clash against the Sharks at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton. Roger Randle is out with a hamstring problem and Shayne Austin unavailable after his mother passed away this week.

An injury to fullback Ben Blair saw King shuffled from centre to the wing in his All Blacks debut against Wales last year, and he's had experience there in club rugby.

Who knows? If he makes a splash on the flank it might give King - who has had a low-profile season after starring in the NPC - another avenue into the test side.

There is hardly a surfeit of wings available to the All Blacks, although King would need more than just this opportunity to show his wares.

Bringing Mark Ranby into the centres might stiffen the midfield defence, which was exposed as the Brumbies went on a first-half rampage in Canberra last Sunday.

Stephen Larkham attacked that area at the start, and it was all downhill from there for the Chiefs.

Injury to front-rowers Michael Collins, Greg Smith and Tony Philp has contributed to a strange look to the Chiefs' bench.

Hooker Aleki Lutui is the only one of a Bay of Plenty quartet to have had any Super 12 game time.

Prop Taufaao Filise, flanker Wayne Ormond and halfback Kevin Senio would all make debuts if used.

Ormond has been ignored so far, but impressed with the battling Bay.

Senio, who has spent about six weeks in training with the Chiefs, will join the Steamers this year after transferring from Auckland.

The Chiefs have also called in North Harbour wing Karl Te Nana, who had four games under Greene with the Chiefs last season.

Meanwhile, the Sharks have flown in Justin Swart to shore up their depleted back reserves.

And coach Kevin Putt, the former Waikato halfback, said he was not reading too much into the way the Chiefs crumbled in the first half against the Brumbies.

"I keep telling my side not to underestimate them," Putt said.

"In the four games against the New Zealand teams they have been there or thereabouts. You might never see the ball bounce to hand the way it did for the Brumbies for the rest of your life."

Putt said a string of injuries was no excuse for his side's lowly position, but he was encouraged by their last performance on high ground against the Cats where they scored an upset 29-23 win.

Putt had still to confirm his side last night.