Donald takes centre stage at Newlands
In the forwards, Kane Hames and Atu Moli are promoted from the bench to start alongside veteran hooker Hika Elliot in the front row.
Loose-forward Lachlan Boshier returns to the matchday 23 to replace the injured Sam Cane in jersey No.7
There are two changes to the backline with explosive back Toni Pulu returning from a hamstring strain to start on the right wing and Chiefs fan favourite Stephen Donald moving from the bench to claim the No.12 jersey.
Rennie has also included 20-year-old Waikato prop Sosefo Kautai on the bench. The former New Zealand Under-20s representative is in line to make his Super Rugby debut.
Sam McNicol, who has worked his way back from concussion, makes his first appearance in the matchday 23 for 2017.
Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Stephen Donald, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden (captain), 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Michael Leitch, 7 Lachlan Boshier, 6 Liam Messam 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Atu Moli, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Kane Hames.
Replacements: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Taleni Seu, 20 Mitchell Brown, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Sam McNicol, 23 Shaun Stevenson.
Date: Saturday, April 8
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17.15 (15.15 GMT; 03.15 NZ Time Sunday, April 9)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jaco van Heerden (South Africa), Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
