Adrian Cashmore is back at fullback with speedster Sosene Anesi reverting to the right wing in the Chiefs' only change for tomorrow night's game against the Brumbies in Canberra.
The move is forced by the broken leg suffered by wing Sailosi Tagicakibau in the thrilling win over the Stormers in Cape Town last weekend.
Anesi began the Super 12 on the wing and he's had a good debut season, with five tries.
Cashmore has been on the bench as coach Ian Foster has opted for the all-Pacific Islands back three of Anesi, Tagicakibau and Sitiveni Sivivatu in recent weeks.
But Cashmore's steadying influence will be valuable as the Chiefs look to bag just their second Super 12 win in Canberra against a defending champion slipping off the pace. Their only other win in the Australian capital was in 1999.
Their first meeting since last year's semifinal in Canberra will also be ace goalkicker David Hill's 50th Super 12 match for the Chiefs since making his debut in 2001 and he needs seven points to reach his century for the season.
"Hilly has been a special part of the Chiefs team and he has really come on strongly in this competition," Foster said last night.
The Chiefs pack has been retained from Cape Town.
It's a different story for Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher, who has had to make seven changes from the team well beaten by the Hurricanes in Wellington last weekend.
Most significantly, Wallaby flanker George Smith was ruled out yesterday, having failed to recover from rib and collarbone injuries he picked up against the Hurricanes.
His place goes to 19-year-old former Australian Schoolboys captain Julian Salvi, who makes his debut. It ends an unbroken 66-game run of Brumbies appearances for Smith.
"It's pretty daunting just to play Super 12 and coming up against the likes of Marty Holah, but I've trained for the last two years and I think I'm ready," Salvi said yesterday, adding that he hoped he wouldn't be judged alongside Smith.
"George is one of the best No 7s in the world, so to be filling those boots is a pretty big ask.
"I can't say I'm not nervous or anything, because I really am. I'm really excited as well."
The Brumbies are seventh, one spot above the Chiefs.
Cashmore returns for Chiefs after Tagicakibau blow
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