The Chiefs coach Dave Rennie expects veteran lock Ross Filipo to slot straight back into their pack without too many problems in Friday night's Super Rugby game against the Bulls in Rotorua.
Filipo will come out of professional retirement to pack down for the Chiefs, who have a crisis in the second row.
Chiefs lock Ross Filipo Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Loose forward Johan Bardoul is the Chiefs' fifth lock and he'll start alongside Filipo, who Rennie has plenty of confidence in.
Rennie says if he had a couple of 20-year-old locks playing he'd be concerned, but Filipo has the age and experience to match Bulls star Victor Matfield.
Filipo was in the Chiefs squad last year, but this season the 36-year-old is a player-coach for Hamilton Marist.
The Chiefs are without locks Brodie Retallick, Matt Symons, Michael Allardice and now Michael Fitzgerald, who was bracketed with Filipo, isn't available.
As expected there have been some changes to the Chiefs tight five.
In the front row Mitchell Graham starts at loosehead prop while Michael Fitzgerald has been bracketed with former Chief and All Black Ross Filipo, who was called into the side earlier this week as cover.
The confirmed starting lock will be joined in the second row by the newly re-signed Johan Bardoul.
The only other change to the run on side sees Augustine Pulu assume the starting role at halfback.
Prop Pauliasi Manu and halfback Brad Weber move to the reserves while utility back Tim Nanai-Williams returns to the match day 23.
Chiefs development lock Brian Alainu'uese gets the opportunity to make his Chiefs and Investec Super Rugby debut off the bench.
The 21 year-old has come through the Chiefs U18 programme and has been part of the Chiefs development squad for the last two seasons.
Meanwhile a scan on winger James Lowe's right shoulder has revealed he has an injury to the cartilage on the shoulder joint which will require a rehabilitation period of four-six weeks.
1. Mitchell Graham
2. Hika Elliot
3. Ben Tameifuna
4. Michael Fitzgerald/Ross Filipo
5. Johan Bardoul
6. Liam Messam (c)
7. Sam Cane
8. Michael Leitch
9. Augustine Pulu
10. Damian McKenzie
11. Bryce Heem
12. Anton Lienert-Brown
13. Charlie Ngatai
14. Hosea Gear
15. Tom Marshall
16. Quentin MacDonald
17. Siate Tokolahi
18. Pauliasi Manu
19. Brian Alainu'uese*
20. Maama Vaipulu
21. Brad Weber
22. Andrew Horrell
23. Tim Nanai-Williams
*Chiefs debutant & Super Rugby debut
