By Chris Rattue
It has been a long time coming for Danny Lee.
On Saturday afternoon the Chiefs halfback will finally get a run-on place in a Super 12 side, against the Cats at Pukekohe Stadium.
The 23-year-old Lee has been given his chance on his home ground by Chiefs coach Ross
Cooper, who was at pains to point out that halfback Rhys Duggan "has not been dropped."
"It was just a good opportunity to give Danny in front of his home crowd. He has worked very hard in training all year," said Cooper.
The Hastings-born Lee first played for Hawkes Bay when he was at high school, was part of the Vikings set-up, then accepted an approach from Counties Manukau to play first-division rugby.
Lee immediately impressed, winning the union's player of the year title in his first season last year.
But getting a Super 12 break has been a little tougher, and he has sat on the bench 15 times for just two substitute appearances. He was part of the Hurricanes squad in 1997 when he had a spell against the Highlanders.
Last year he was called in to cover Hurricanes injuries but did not get on the field.
This season, he has had just one appearance - 10 minutes against the Queensland Reds at Hamilton. Apart from that, there have been a couple of club games and a match for the Chiefs side who thrashed an invitation team in Tauranga during their Super 12 bye round.
"You are always hoping to get a run at some stage.
This is not only a chance to show the public what I can do but also the coaches," said Lee last night.
"A lack of games shouldn't be a problem because we're training every day - but I'll have to see how my match fitness goes."
Cooper said Duggan, one of the form players in a Chiefs side who have battled to make any impression in this year's competiton, would almost certainly play some part in the match.
Glen Marsh, who missed the win over the Hurricanes with tonsillitis and a virus, returns and Ian Jones, who made his comeback from a knee injury off the bench against the Hurricanes, starts in place of Taranaki lock Paul Tito.
But there is doubt over captain and loosehead prop Michael Collins, who injured a shoulder in training at Pukekohe yesterday and is rated a 60-40 chance.
Cats coach Andre Markgraaff will name his line-up today. Only one change is being predicted - the return of Springbok wing Chester Williams from a hamstring injury in place of Thinus Delport.
The Cats have minor injury worries over two Springboks, centre Japie Mulder (hamstring) and flanker Andre Venter (flu).
There is also a suggestion that the Cats' mighty South African prop Os du Randt could make a comeback from a long-term injury, if required, against the Crusaders at Nelson in the next round.
Chiefs: Bruce Reihana, Roger Randle, Scott McLeod, Jonah Lomu, Walter Little, Glen Jackson, Danny Lee; Deon Muir, Glen Marsh, Chresten Davis, Ian Jones, Dylan Mika, Lee Lidgard, Greg Smith, Michael Collins (captain).
Reserves: Matthew Cooper, Rhys Duggan, Mark Ranby; Paul Martin, John Akurangi, Api Naevo, Nick Holten.