Super Rugby: Clarke set to pass 50 mark

Chiefs' captain Craig Clarke reaches a special milestone when the rangy lock takes to the field against the Hurricanes tomorrow.

The 28-year-old racks up his 50th game for the Chiefs and joins a long list of Chiefs' greats which include Jono Gibbs, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Marty Holah, Stephen Donald and current players Liam Messam and Richard Kahui.

Born in Wairarapa, Clarke has played four seasons with the Chiefs and shares the captain's band with Messam.

Clarke who joined the Chiefs in 2009, previously played Super Rugby for the Crusaders and tomorrow's opponents, the Hurricanes.

The 2m tall lock will lead the team out tomorrow, at Waikato Stadium.

Chiefs coach Dave Rennie has kept the changes to a minimum with Brendon Leonard making his first start after returning from injury and prop Toby Smith comes on to the bench. Tanerau Latimer and Tim Nanai Williams move back into the starting line up with Sam Cane and Asaeli Tikoirotuma moving to the bench.

The hookers are also rotated in their starting positions.

Rennie was under no illusions that tomorrow's game would be an easy one despite the team leading the Investec Super Rugby competition.

"It has been a demanding three weeks.

"We know it is going to be a tough encounter against the Hurricanes this weekend, they will be grumpy and have a few of their key players coming back so it will be a hard battle."

Kick off for the match is at 7.25pm with organisers expecting a large turn out for the team's first home game in three weeks.

The Hurricanes who were convincingly beaten last weekend by the Crusaders will be hoping to repeat their 23-19 winning performance, the last time the two sides met - in a pre-season match in Taupo.

However, the Chiefs have won eight on the trot after the tight 18-12 tussle with the Sharks in Durban.

Chiefs squad: Arizona Taumalolo, Hika Elliot, Ben Tameifuna, Craig Clarke (captain), Brodie Retallick, Liam Messam, Tanerau Latimer, Alex Bradley, Brendon Leonard, Aaron Cruden, Tim Nanai-Williams, Sonny Bill Williams, Richard Kahui, Lelia Masaga, Andrew Horrell. Reserves: Mahonri Schwalger, Toby Smith, Michael Fitzgerald, Sam Cane, Augustine Pulu, Jackson Willison, Asaeli Tikoirotuma.