All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick has been cleared to play for the Chiefs against the Crusaders in Hamilton on Saturday.
Retallick was initially in doubt this week with suspected concussion but has passed all of the required tests.
Liam Messam returns on the flank and will be joined in the back row by Tanerau Latimer, (who will earn his 100th cap for the Chiefs franchise) and Liam Squire, who wears the No 8 jersey.
Pauliasi Manu starts at prop, Tawera Kerr-Barlow is at scrumhalf and winger Asaeli Tikoirotuma will take the field after two weeks out with a knee injury.
Four changes have been made to the Chiefs bench with Jamie Mackintosh, Sam Cane, Matt Symons and Augustine Pulu all added to the reserves.
Meanwhile, in the Crusaders forwards, Owen Franks and Nepo Laulala have switched places again so that Franks starts at tighhead prop and Laulala takes a place on the bench.
Jordan Taufua will make his first start this season, having been promoted from the reserves to the blindside flank as George Whitelock is dropped. Luke Whitelock will provide cover from the bench.
Tom Taylor also moves into the starting XV playing at outside centre after Kieron Fonotia was ruled out by a hamstring injury in the only change in the backline.
Chiefs – 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Tim Nanai-Williams, 13 Andrew Horrell, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Liam Squire, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam (c), 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Michael Fitzgerald, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Rhys Marshall, 1 Pauliasi Manu.
Subs: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Jamie Mackintosh, 18 Josh Hohneck, 19 Matt Symons, 20 Sam Cane, 21 Augustine Pulu, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Jordan Payne.
Crusaders – 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Tom Taylor, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Willi Heinz, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Matt Todd, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Subs: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Tim Perry, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 Luke Whitelock, 21 Andy Ellis, 22 Tyler Bleyendaal, 23 Adam Whitelock.
Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images
