Chiefs look tough enough to repel blushing Reds

The Chiefs would be wise to be wary of a hurt Reds team at Waikato Stadium tonight.

Not only are they 0-from-3 in the Super 12 so far and second bottom on the table, their captain Elton Flatley is out and their ears will have turned the colour of their shirts after fierce criticism from one of Queensland rugby's favourite sons, former Wallaby skipper Andrew Slack.

After a gritty effort almost nailed a win against the wobbly Blues at Eden Park a fortnight ago, the Reds went to sleep in Nelson last week and copped a 59-24 roasting from the Crusaders.

They aren't the first team to get pounded by the four-times champions, but it was the manner which hurt Slack and in his Brisbane newspaper column this week he let fly: "It was an effort that, for their own sakes, you have to hope they were embarrassed by."

He slammed players unwillingness to get into a position to make a tackle and wrote that for all their practising of defensive patterns "nothing can make the hits for you if your heart is not in it".

And they were just the sexy bits, so expect the Reds, if they have some spine, to be up for a decent crack at the Chiefs tonight.

The Reds are without suspended flanker Daniel Heenan, which is a blow, and backline organiser and goalkicker extraordinaire Flatley, which is even worse.

Flatley's head has been sliced, bumped and mangled in the last two weeks with a series of cuts, most recently a head-clash with team-mate David Croft last weekend in Nelson.

Reports from the Reds camp suggest he has lingering symptoms of concussion. Julian Huxley steps in at No 10 and test lock Nathan Sharpe is captain for the first time, rather than vice-captain, prop Nick Stiles.

"He has the respect of all the players in the squad and his leadership will be important to us," Reds coach Jeff Miller said.

One Reds player talking his team up is hard-running winger Wendell Sailor. He has been hit and miss since switching codes in 2001, but he scored a try against the Blues, has the ability to turn a game and, with an eye on regaining his Wallaby jersey, reckons he's playing the best rugby of his career.

"I've always liked to run the ball but I think my all-round game has evolved and I feel I am a better player than I was at the World Cup," he said. "I want to make sure that I get into the game from the very first minute against the Chiefs."

The Chiefs, lying ninth, have introduced the tidy Kevin Senio for Byron Kelleher at halfback and Ben Castle at tighthead, with Deacon Manu swapping to loosehead.

The Chiefs have a week off after tonight's game. When they resume against the Hurricanes on April 1, a two-win, two-loss record will be far sweeter than 1-3. They have won three out of four matches at home against the Reds and should be too good tonight.