Fit-again Willis has business to finish

Chiefs stand-in captain Tom Willis says he is comfortable in the role. Ross Land / Getty Images

Captaincy sits well with fit-again Chiefs hooker Tom Willis.

And with regular skipper Jono Gibbes sidelined for the opening Super 14 clash against the Sharks in Durban, Willis has an extra responsibility to go with playing his first game in the competition since April 2004.

The former All Black hooker missed all last year with a persistent back problem.

Not surprisingly he's jumping out of his skin at the prospect of running out at Kingsmead Stadium tomorrow morning - and the fact he'll be first Chief out of the tunnel only enhances the challenge.

"The captaincy's not something I was thinking about a lot," Willis said from Durban yesterday.

"It's just the way the dice have rolled for Jono, but I'm not too fazed about it.

"It's something I've done before and to a certain extent it can enhance your performance."

The influential Gibbes' recovery from a lengthy layoff due to a foot injury is almost over and he's being prepared to return for the Cats match in Johannesburg next weekend.

In the meantime, the Chiefs are in smart hands.

Willis led the All Blacks on his debut against Ireland A in Belfast five years ago, the first of seven games in black.

And while he doesn't dwell on what the next couple of years might hold - the last 12 months have taught him not to peer too far into the distance - he intimated there's a degree of unfinished business to attend to.

"I can't deny I'm still ambitious, but I've got to be smart. I can't set my goals too high too early.

"You've got to walk before you run and I have to play some quality rugby for the Chiefs.

"But you do get inspired by seeing guys who are dropped or get serious injuries and come back."

A solid year from Willis will add an intriguing element to the battle for the No 2 jersey come World Cup time. There are a clutch of candidates, and the presence of the 26-year-old lawyer will add a classy new contender to the mix.

The Chiefs' team are largely predictable.

Centre Niva Ta'auso made his Chiefs debut against the Sharks last year, joining the squad after Loki Crichton's serious neck injury ended his season.

Ta'auso grabbed four tries in five games and made a big impression.

He starts tomorrow alongside blockbusting Sam Tuitupou, one of two Blues arrivals in the backline, the other being All Black fullback Mils Muliaina.

In the pack, Steven Bates and Sione Lauaki swap their usual roles, Bates moving to blindside flanker and Lauaki to No 8.

Chiefs coach Ian Foster said he liked aspects of what Lauaki could bring to the back of the scrum role - and ball-carrying strength would be top among those qualities - while the hard-working Bates would get more opportunity to roam wider.

The Sharks finished bottom in the final Super 12 last year and coach Dick Muir is already feeling the heat after omitting Springbok loose forward Solly Tyibilika , whom South African coach Jake White has earmarked for next year's World Cup.

In best coach-speak, Muir defended his decision, saying "when I choose my team, I'm colour blind. I do what's best for the Sharks".

Muir has opted for a big pack with a couple of small houses at lock and hefty, rugged AJ Venter at blindside flanker.

Springbok fullback Percy Montgomery is at first five-eighth in the absence of former All Black Tony Brown, who is still on duty in Japan, and keep an eye out for Wellington-born Samoan flanker Daniel Farani off the bench.

* Sharks v Chiefs, Durban, 6.10am tomorrow