Muliaina solid on centre stage

Several important pairs of eyes will have watched Mils Muliaina's performance with interest in the Chiefs win over the Highlanders in Hamilton.

The 25-year-old All Black had his first start at centre for the Chiefs on Saturday night, the position he might find himself in when the international season begins against Ireland on the same ground in June.

The All Black selectors aren't short of candidates for the job, despite Conrad Smith's broken leg counting him out until late in the year, but Muliaina appeals as a safe pair of hands.

With Leon MacDonald in rousing form for the Crusaders at fullback - the position Muliaina has occupied in most of his 35 tests - there could be a straightforward solution for the All Black selectors.

"I quite enjoyed it," Muliaina said of his night in the No 13.

"I got lost a couple of times on D [defence] but I didn't get to do much defence this week."

That's because he's carrying a small fracture on the back of his right hand which, while painful, was not worsened by playing the game.

He had a good tussle with the capable Seilala Mapusua, missing one tackle when the Highlander cut inside him, but provided a steadying presence and got in a couple of sharp runs, when he accelerated round the outside of his marker.

Muliaina is a sufficiently classy player that he won't need a mountain of time at centre to prove his credentials for the role if the All Black selectors want to use him there.

Muliaina's view of his role at the Chiefs is simply to fit in where coach Ian Foster wants him to play. Short of playing in a single figure jersey, he's happy however his lot turns out.

"I'll just do what is required. That's what it comes down to," he said.

"I've got to do the best I can for the franchise. Whether it's at fullback or centre, so be it."