Nightmare on Blues' street set to return

Sione Lauaki gets the chance to become a recurring nightmare for the Blues when the Chiefs host their near-neighbours at Waikato Stadium tomorrow night.

The beefy Auckland blindside flanker, unwanted by the Blues this season, will be in the starting XV for the first time in this year's Super 12, in place of Wayne Ormond, who drops to the bench.

A year ago, Lauaki's superb solo try in the final moments at Eden Park gave the Chiefs a 27-20 win, which helped to propel them to their first appearance in the semifinals.

The Chiefs hope Lauaki can add the cutting edge that has been missing so far in a campaign in which they have lost their first two games on the road.

On a day the Chiefs and Waikato learned they will be without first-choice hooker Tom Willis for the rest of the year, coach Ian Foster has made four backline changes in addition to that one alteration in the pack.

Veteran fullback Adrian Cashmore gets his first start for the season, with encumbent No 15 Loki Crichton moving to the left wing replacing Sailosi Tagicakibau; Derek Maisey starts at second five-eighth in place of Grant McQuoid; and Mark Ranby's rapid recovery from a groin strain in the opening-round loss to the Waratahs is confirmed with his return at centre.

At one point this week, Foster was contemplating having to name a side without three of his midfield options.

Ranby, McQuoid - who was forced out of New Zealand sevens contention on Monday with a thigh strain - and Keith Lowen, who tweaked a hamstring in last week's loss to the Crusaders, were all battling to be fit.

But McQuoid recovered sufficiently to be on the bench, and Maisey gets his first chance.

"I was keen to add another decision-maker to the midfield and we have that with Derek," Foster said.

"We were lacking a bit of direction in this area last week, so I'm keen to see Derek show he can add something."

Having Cashmore and Crichton in the back three increases the experience quotient. Crichton's clever running skills opened some gaps against the Crusaders.

Willis suffered a prolapsed disc in his back during last year's Super 12 and it has not come right as quickly as had been hoped.