Refreshed Chiefs ready to go to 'war'
New Zealand's Chiefs will be looking to consolidate top spot on the Super Rugby table when the series resumes this weekend, after the June Test window break.
The Chiefs face the Highlanders in Dunedin on Friday in the first of three New Zealand derbies they have before next month's top-six playoffs, while the second-placed Stormers take on the lowly Lions at home.
The Chiefs have a four-point lead over the Stormers on the overall standings, but lead the Crusaders by seven points in the New Zealand Conference.
While the Highlanders beat the Chiefs in the opening week of the Southern Hemisphere provincial championship, the Hamilton-based Chiefs hold the historic advantage with 11 wins to the Highlanders' seven.
Five of the winning All Blacks from this month's series sweep over Ireland are in the Chiefs team, including flank Sam Cane, who will come off the reserve bench while Tanerau Latimer starts at openside flank.
If the Chiefs can win in Dunedin they have the Crusaders at home and the Hurricanes away in their final two games as they look to finish top of the standings – which would give them the first week of the finals off.
Chiefs coach Dave Rennie said his players had returned refreshed from their break.
"Some guys have come back and done personal bests in strength and speed and so on, so that's really good and we need to put that on the field on Friday," Rennie said.
The Stormers have taken the opposite tack and will keep some of their big guns in reserve, naming an inexperienced loose trio in the side to play against the Lions at Newlands on Saturday.
"The selections are not because we are taking the Lions lightly. We are in a good position now and we're looking to make this opportunity count," coach Allister Coetzee said.
