The All Blacks halfback Brendon Leonard and centre Richard Kahui along with former All Blacks number eight Sione Lauaki have been dropped from the Chiefs side.
In an apparent last throw of the dice by coach Ian Foster to keep his side's Super 14 season alive he's made six personnel changes to the team for Friday's night's game against the South African side the Cheetahs in Hamilton.
The Chiefs need to win their final four games to have any chance of making the playoffs.
Stephen Donald is back at first five, with Mike Delaney out injured for the remainder of the season.
Leonard, Lauaki and Kahui who's been nursing a shoulder injury have been dropped to the reserves with Junior Poluleuligaga starting at halfback and Colin Bourke at number eight.
Lock Kevin O'Neill has also been named in the reserves having been out since the opening game of the season after suffernig an achilles injury.
Despite have slumped to tenth on the table after a winning start to the competition coach Foster says he still believes the Chiefs are a good side and they determined to prove that against the Cheetahs.
The Cheetahs are second to last in the competition.
