Gibbes back as flanker for clash with the Cats

Jono Gibbes

Chiefs captain Jono Gibbes is back for tomorrow night's match against the Cats - and back in his old position of blindside flanker.

Gibbes missed the storming 40-5 win over the Sharks last weekend with a hamstring injury, but returns as the Chiefs look to pick up their third win of the Super 12 campaign.

His presence on the flank significantly beefs up the Chiefs' lineout options, with locks Sean Hohneck and Bernie Upton both good operators in that set-piece.

Regular No 8 Steven Bates damaged a hamstring in the Sharks win and is bracketed on the bench with Nili Latu, necessitating a second change to the loose-forward combination, with powerful Sione Lauaki switching to No 8.

A decision on whether Bates, who impressed as stand-in leader against the Sharks, makes it to the bench will be made tomorrow.

The other change in the pack is in the front row where Simms Davison replaces Michael Collins at loosehead prop.

Collins has been troubled by a stomach bug this week and his training time has been limited.

The backline is unchanged, coach Ian Foster sticking with the group who scored four of the six tries against the Sharks.

That means up-and-comer Stephen Donald gets a second consecutive start at first five-eighths, as does centre Niva Ta'auso, who made a strong contribution on debut last weekend.

It is a good move, giving confidence and a reward to a pair of promising players.

"In spite of a couple of interruptions due to illness and injury, it is great to put a relatively unchanged line up on the field," Foster said.

"This selecton helps us keep the continuity in our game that we have developed."

Foster refused to say injury-plagued lock Keith Robinson had been ruled out for the season.

The Cats have not beaten the Chiefs in New Zealand in four attempts. They have won just one of their six games this season, and were ordinary in losing to the Blues last weekend.

* Waikato Stadium, 7.35pm, tomorrow

Chiefs
Sosene Anesi, Sailosi Tagicakibau, Niva Ta'auso, David Hill, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Stephen Donald, Byron Kelleher, Sione Lauaki, Marty Holah, Jono Gibbes (c), Bernie Upton, Sean Hohneck, Deacon Manu, Aleki Lutui, Simms Davison,

Cats

Conrad Jantjes, Swartbooi/de Waal, Jaque Fourie, Wayne Julie, Chumani Booi, Andre Pretorius, Michael Claassens, Juan Smith, Wikus van Heerden, Cobus Grobbelaar, Barend Pieterse, Boela du Plooy, van der Linde/Hurter, Schalk Brits, Os du Randt

Reserves:

Chiefs: Scott Linklater, Ben Castle, Wayne Ormond, Steven Bates or Nili Latu, Kevin Senio, Keith Lowen, Adrian Cashmore.

Cats: Naka Drotské, Marius Hurter/CJ van der Linde, Trevor Hall, Hendro Scholtz, Paul Delport, Barry Goodes, Tiaan Snyman.