Rugby: Chiefs near climax of gruelling campaign

Richard Kahui is expected to play in Sunday's Super 14 final. Photo / Getty Images

The Chiefs were chewing on a mixture of good and bad news as they boarded a bus at 3am today for the first leg of their trip to Pretoria.

First the bad: Sitiveni Sivivatu, the winger whose star turn was the decisive factor in Friday night's semifinal victory over the Hurricanes, wasn't on the bus. Having dislocated a shoulder twice in eight weeks, the All Black flyer faces an uncertain future.

He has been replaced in the 24-man travelling party by Jackson Willison, with his place in the starting line-up likely to go to either Sosene Anesi or Dwayne Sweeney.

There was better news on key centre Richard Kahui, who is expected to play in the final against the Bulls on Sunday morning [NZ time] after missing Friday night's semifinal and the last round-robin match against the Brumbies with an injured calf.

"Things are looking up and we are pretty positive with where he is at," coach Ian Foster said after watching Kahui pass a fitness test yesterday. "I saw him running very freely at [Waikato Stadium] and he has also had a strengthening session on the calf, so the signs are looking very good."

Blockbusting No 8 Sione Lauaki, who scored a sizzling try against the Hurricanes, but departed early after receiving a heavy blow to his head and neck, has been cleared of any lasting damage.

Reserve halfback David Bason has recovered from a hamstring strain, meaning Taranaki ring-in Brett Goodin's role with the side was limited to bench-warming duties on Friday night. But Foster has called in another player from outside the squad, with Waikato prop Nathan White providing front-row cover in the absence of Ben May.

A journey that takes them via Sydney and on to Johannesburg should see the Chiefs arrive in Pretoria at around 6pm Monday local time.

That arduous trek and the fact the game will be played at altitude in front of a rabid Loftus Versfeld crowd will make the Chiefs heavy underdogs against a Bulls side that topped the standings after the round robin.

Foster didn't buy into the argument that a lack of expectation would ease the pressure felt by his players. Being expected to fail was also nothing new to a Chiefs side that have continued to confound predictions since losing their first three games of the season.

"I guess we have kind of felt that the last three or four weeks - people have been waiting for the bubble to burst," Foster said. "But we don't feel like that whatsoever. We are very excited about being in the final and we want the same outcome that the Bulls do. If you are good enough to be in the final you are good enough to win it."

After three successive night games in wintry Hamilton conditions, the Chiefs should at least get the chance to play in conditions that suit their favoured expansive approach.

While altitude may well be a factor, a 5.30pm kick-off means the Chiefs won't have to worry about excessive temperatures.

"Clearly we would rather have had 25,000 Chiefs supporters screaming us on in Hamilton, but the one positive out of being over there is the conditions," Foster said. "We do expect it to be a good, hard surface and that is something we enjoy."