The Western Force has backed scrumhalf Henry Robertson to help take down the first-place Chiefs in Mount Maunganui.
It comes as both teams are forced into significant changes for the first Super Rugby game at the Bay Oval, with the hosts without superstar playmaker Damian McKenzie.
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Robertson will make his debut start in Super Rugby Pacific after Nic White was ruled out with a concussion.
The Sydney Uni product claimed the club's Rising Star award in 2024, having played ten games off the bench in Super Rugby.
The move sees former U20s half Doug Philipson come onto the bench for his potential debut.
Philipson started two games in the Rugby Championship U20s against Argentina and New Zealand in May.
In further changes, Marley Pearce and Vaiolini Ekuasi have been ruled out with shoulder injuries.
It paves the way for Ryan Coxon to return from a rib injury, with Will Harris into the back row.
Brandon Paenga-Amosa (ankle) remains out after his late withdrawal from last week’s draw with the Hurricanes.
Nic Dolly retains the starting hooker role and starts alongside Coxon and Tom Robertson.
16-cap Wallaby Sam Carter has been named onto the bench for the first time since round five.
For the Chiefs, McKenzie will not feature in the first game at Bay Oval after a hand injury.
He is joined on the sidelines by explosive winger Leroy Carter, who is dealing with a foot complaint.
Number eight, Wallace Sititi, is a massive boost for the Chiefs, named for his first game of 2025.
Sititi, the reigning World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year, will come off the bench after recovering from a knee injury during the All Blacks’ end of year tour.
Hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho is set to earn his 100th cap and will start in the front-row after debuting for the club in 2017.
“Samisoni has earned every one of those 100 caps through commitment to the game and to the team. It’s a special milestone, and to celebrate it on Anzac Day, in front of a sold-out crowd at Bay Oval, makes it all the more meaningful,” said Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan.
CHIEFS (1-15): Aidan Ross, Samisoni Taukei'aho, George Dyer, Josh Lord, Tupou Vaa'i, Samipeni Finau, Kalyum Boshier, Luke Jacobson (c), Cortez Ratima, Josh Jacomb, Daniel Rona, Quinn Tupaea, Anton Lienert-Brown, Emoni Narawa, Shaun Stevenson
Replacements: Brodie McAlister, Ollie Norris, Reuben O'Neill, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Simon Parker, Wallace Sititi, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Kaleb Trask
FORCE (1-15): Ryan Coxon, Nic Dolly, Tom Robertson, Jeremy Williams (c), Darcy Swain, Will Harris, Carlo Tizzano, Nick Champion de Crespigny; Henry Robertson, Ben Donaldson, Bayley Kuenzle, Hamish Stewart, Sio Tomkinson, Harry Potter, Mac Grealy
Replacements: Tom Horton, Atu Moli, Josh Smith, Sam Carter, Reed Prinsep (vc), Doug Philipson, Max Burey, George Poolman
