Chiefs warned to keep up guard

If there's one opponent the Chiefs should fancy tackling at Waikato Stadium it's the Cats.

The South African side, so often under-achievers in the Super 12, have yet to beat the Chiefs in New Zealand in four attempts.

And the Cats have been blighted with injuries this season, winning only one of their six games, while the Chiefs are full of confidence following a resounding win over the Sharks.

That's why Chiefs coach Ian Foster will be raising red flags before the kickoff, making sure his players keep their guard up.

His squad head for South Africa tomorrow. If they win tonight it'll be a happy trip for a resurgent outfit. Lose and the season will be shot.

The Chiefs should also remember they came off the high of beating the Blues in round three with an abject display in losing to the Reds at home a week later.

They will need to retain the same sense of urgency they showed in their 40-point beating of the Sharks last weekend.

The Chiefs have captain Jono Gibbes back in a rejigged loose forward trio.

He is over his hamstring strain and is at No 6 with Sione Lauaki switching to No 8 in place of Steven Bates, who is bracketed for the bench as he tries to get over a hamstring tendon strain.

Gibbes increases their lineout options and, while Bates earned plaudits for his leadership against the Sharks, Gibbes is an inspirational figure for his team.

Foster kept the backline intact, with its speed out wide, and that means another chance to assess the work of new first five-eighths Stephen Donald, working in concert with David Hill and another rookie, Niva Ta'auso.

That combination generally looked good last week, and it gives the Chiefs two kicking options and two playmakers in Donald and Hill.

"They injected a bit of excitement and have got a bit of pace," Foster said. "I was very impressed with Hilly's game. He proved the catalyst for them both."

Expect the Chiefs to be muscular up front and although he has been a bit hot and cold, first five-eighths Andre Pretorius is a highly regarded playmaker.

The Cats haven't scored a try in their last two outings, relying on Pretorius' boot. They are sitting second-last. Their season is all but over. The Chiefs can end it tonight.