Rugby: Chiefs keen to take care of business

Chiefs centre Richard Kahui has been cleared to play against the Brumbies tomorrow. Photo / Sarah Ivey

The Chiefs have the rare opportunity to chart their own destiny as the Super 14 rugby season heads towards an exciting climax.

Their last regular season match of the campaign against the ACT Brumbies in Hamilton tomorrow night holds the promise of competition riches to come for coach Ian Foster's team.

The second-placed Chiefs can reach the playoffs for just the second time if they beat their fifth-placed opponents in the opening match of the final weekend or even if they just snare a bonus point. Victory would guarantee them a home semifinal.

Skipper Mils Muliaina, whose team have strung together eight wins in the past nine outings, appreciates the luck of the draw gives the Chiefs the chance to do the business then sit back and watch the bunfight as the other semifinals contenders scrap it out.

"Probably the best thing about it is getting your game out there, doing the best you can and then sit back and see what everyone (does)," Muliaina said.

"It is nice to be able to do that and I suppose wait for other, or hopefully wanting to wait for other results to go your way before you know you are in the semifinals or not.

"The good thing that we know is that our destiny is in our own hands. If we do it right on Friday we can sit back and hopefully make the semifinals."

Providing they meet their end of the bargain and break down a Brumbies team who are sure to be up for such an important match, the Chiefs will become full fledged Sharks supporters for two days.

The Sharks are playing the top-placed Bulls at Durban on Sunday morning (NZT), and there's no prizes for guessing the wider Waikato-Bay of Plenty region will be willing on an upset in the Sharks' favour.

"I tell you what, I will buy more than a Sharks supporters' jersey. I will get stickers for my car," Muliaina said, only half in jest.

"It would be nice if they could get up obviously. Looking at the programme a couple of weeks ago, it was always going to be the big game.

"But we have to do our job first. It would be nice to have a home semi. But we clearly know we could still miss out if we don't do things right this Friday."

There can be no excuses if the Chiefs fall at the final hurdle in the race for a semifinals berth.

The availability after injury of All Blacks halfback Brendon Leonard means they are at full strength, and he returns to a team buoyant due to their consistently high standards attained during the past two months.

Leonard is one of just two changes from the starting 15 who beat the Hurricanes 16-8 in Hamilton last Saturday.

Mobile prop James McGougan has been named at tighthead, with Ben May shifting to the loosehead side and Sona Taumalolo dropping to the reserves bench.

Top centre Richard Kahui has been cleared to start after picking up a bruised calf against the Hurricanes.

Muliaina welcomed the return of Leonard.

"It is nice to get the likes of Brendon back," the experienced international fullback said.

"He is jumping out of his skin to get out there and play.

"Toby Morland really stood up for us and has played some out standing football for us. But for Brendon, I just notice the excitement of wanting to get out there again.

"The hardest thing now is to try and contain the excitement levels of his."

But Muliaina hopes that Leonard will not be the only Chiefs player in an excitable state tomorrow night.

Chiefs
Mils Muliaina (captain), Lelia Masaga, Richard Kahui, Callum Bruce, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Stephen Donald, Brendon Leonard, Sione Lauaki, Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam, Kevin O'Neill, Craig Clarke, James McGougan, Aled de Malmanche, Ben May.

Reserves: Hika Elliot, Sona Taumalolo, Toby Lynn, Serge Lilo, Toby Morland, Dwayne Sweeney, Sosene Anesi.

Brumbies
Adam Ashley-Cooper, Clyde Rathbone, Stirling Mortlock, Tyrone Smith, Francis Fainifo, Matt Toomua, Patrick Phibbs, Stephen Hoiles (captain), George Smith, Julian Salvi, Peter Kimlin, Ben Hand, Guy Shepherdson, Stephen Moore/Huia Edmonds, Ben Alexander.

Reserves: Huia Edmonds/John Ulugia, Salesi Ma'afu, Sitaleki Timani, Henry Vanderglas, Joshua Holmes, Afusipa Taumoepeau, Sanualio Afeaki.

- NZPA