Rugby: Rivals at full strength for defining clash

Lelia Masaga returns for the Chiefs after an extended absence. Photo / Getty Images

The Chiefs and Hurricanes will be close to full strength for what looms as a season-defining clash in Hamilton tomorrow night.

Strike wingers Sitiveni Sivivatu and Lelia Masaga return for the Chiefs after an extended absence, leaving All Blacks halfback Brendon Leonard as the only frontline starter not available.

It is a similar situation at the Hurricanes, who cannot call on winger Hosea Gear and flanker Karl Lowe but are otherwise flush with in-form players.

No excuses, then, for a match in which the stakes could hardly be higher. The winner will emerge with one foot in the semifinals and in pole position for a home playoff.

The loser will get another chance to book a semifinal place in next week's final round, but may well have to go through South Africa to claim the trophy - a path not often travelled with much success.

It's hard to overstate the value of home advantage in the playoffs. The Hurricanes have been to the semifinals four times in six years under coach Colin Cooper. But their only success came in a home game, a 2006 semifinal victory over the Waratahs. On the road they are 0-4 in finals games, including the 2006 final in Christchurch.

The Chiefs' solitary playoff match also ended in an away defeat, at the hands of the Brumbies in 2004.

But Cooper said such details hadn't even come into consideration in preparation for tomorrow night. "We really don't want to talk about home advantage. We have got to get there first. I think 42 points may get you into the top four and we are not there yet."

Cory Jane is back at fullback for the Hurricanes, while in-form utility Tamati Ellison must undergo tests on a head injury before taking his place on the wing. Zac Guildford will step in if Ellison isn't cleared to play.

Cooper has reinstated captain Piri Weepu at halfback, a move he described as a spot of "rotation" designed to give Weepu a chance to stake his claim after a season in which he has either filled in at first five-eighths or been out injured.

With Alby Mathewson shining at halfback and Willie Ripia seizing the playmaking role with some aplomb in recent weeks, Weepu has found himself stuck on the bench.

Ripia wasn't even in the 22 when Cooper named his side for the opening-round defeat by the Waratahs but the former Waikato product has re-earned the faith of his coach in recent weeks.

Despite the absence of key scoring threats Sivivatu and Masaga, the Chiefs plugged away to good effect in South Africa, notching two vital wins to stay in the playoff frame.

They did so playing a tighter brand of rugby than has been customary but the return of two of the game's best counter-attackers should herald a return to a more expansive approach.

"They make their own decisions and they have a bit of a licence to read things as they see it and back themselves," coach Ian Foster said.

"Some of that stuff is not necessarily within the structure but you can't coach it either."

Foster has also reshuffled his pack, naming Sona Taumalolo at loosehead prop, switching Ben May to tighthead and returning James McGougan to the bench. Kevin O'Neill replaces Toby Lynn at lock, while utility Dwayne Sweeney is out with an ankle injury.

CHIEFS
Mils Muliaina (c)
Lelia Masaga
Richard Kahui
Callum Bruce
Sitiveni Sivivatu
Stephen Donald
Toby Morland
Sione Lauaki
Tanerau Latimer
Liam Messam
Kevin O'Neill
Craig Clarke
Ben May
A. de Malmanche
Sona Taumalolo

HURRICANES
Cory Jane
Ellison/Guildford
Conrad Smith
Ma'a Nonu
David Smith
Willie Ripia
Piri Weepu
R. So'oialo (c)
Scott Waldrom
Victor Vito
Jason Eaton
Jeremy Thrush
Neemia Tialata
Andrew Hore
John Schwalger

Chiefs: Hika Elliot, James McGougan, Toby Lynn, Serge Lilo, David Bason, Mike Delany, Sosene Anesi.

Hurricanes: Ged Robinson, Jacob Ellison, Bryn Evans, Faifili Levave, Alby Mathewson, Jason Kawau, Zac Guildford/Robert Fruean.