Chiefs coach Dave Rennie has wielded the axe ahead of their match against the Hurricanes in Hamilton on Friday.

Backs Gareth Anscombe, Dwayne Sweeney, Robbie Fruean, Bundee Aki and Augustine Pulu, and loosehead prop Pauliasi Manu have paid the price for the 29-25 loss to the Highlanders in Dunedin.

Tom Marshall moves from the left wing to fullback in place of Anscombe, while Asaeli Tikoirotuma returns from his World Cup qualifying commitments with Fiji to the right wing. Others coming in are left wing James Lowe, outside centre Tim Nanai-Williams, inside centre Charlie Ngatai and scrumhalf Tawera Kerr-Barlow.

Jamie Mackintosh takes the place of Manu at loosehead prop.

Meanwhile, Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett has not yet named the hookers in his match 23 as he sweats on the fitness of Dane Coles, Motu Matu'u and Ash Dixon.

No 8 Victor Vito (calf) and inside centre Alapati Leiua (ankle) have both been ruled out of the Chiefs match.

Brad Shields will start at No 8 with Ardie Savea and Jack Lam playing on the flanks, while Hadleigh Parkes moves into the No 12 jersey.

Chiefs – 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 13 Tim Nanai-Williams, 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden (c), 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Liam Squire, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Mike Fitzgerald, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Mahonri Schwalger, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Subs: 16 Rhys Marshall, 17 Pauliasi Manu, 18 Nick Barrett, 19 Matt Symons, 20 Tevita Koloamatangi, 21 Augustine Pulu, 22 Gareth Anscombe, 23 Bundee Aki.

Hurricanes – 15 Matt Proctor, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Tim Bateman, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Brad Shields, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Jack Lam, 5 Blade Thomson, 4 Jeremy Thrush (c), 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 TBC, 1 Ben Franks.
Subs: 16 TBC, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Reggie Goodes, 19 James Broadhurst, 20 Adam Hill, 21 Chris Smylie, 22 Cardiff Vaega, 23 James Marshall.

Photo: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images