Robinson back for Chiefs

Keith Robinson

The Chiefs aren't expecting miracles from comeback man Keith Robinson in his keenly-anticipated return to top-flight rugby tomorrow against the Sharks in Hamilton.

The rugged All Black lock is back after being sidelined by a variety of ailments since the middle of last winter.

Back, knee and calf injuries combined to sideline him for the Tri-Series last year, the NPC, the All Blacks' end-of-year tour and the early rounds of the Super 12 this season.

He twinged a hamstring last week at training which appeared to have set his return back another couple of weeks.

But Chiefs coach Ian Foster said the injury was not as serious as first thought and the 28-year-old Robinson had made good progress this week.

Still, he returns with just half a club game at Easter behind him and Foster is taking a cautious view of what Robinson might achieve tomorrow.

"There's obviously a lot of interest in where he's at, but he's been out a long time," Foster said last night. "My expectations of him aren't that high. Let's just see how he goes. He has got to feel his way a bit, but I think we owe it to him to give it a try."

Robinson was off limits yesterday, but Foster said he was "jumping round like a little kid".

The Chiefs, bottom on the table and desperate for a win against the side one spot above them, are without captain Jono Gibbes. A small hamstring tear picked up in the loss to the Hurricanes last week has not come right. Hardworking No 8 Steven Bates takes over as captain.

Foster has made a bold change in the backline, where regular first five-eighths David Hill moves out one spot, making way for former national under-21 and secondary schools representative Stephen Donald who gets his first run in the starting XV.

Counties Manukau back Niva Ta'auso makes his debut at centre, having joined the squad as replacement for the injured Loki Crichton.

Experienced midfield operator Mark Ranby is out with a sore shoulder and Keith Lowen is on the bench. Foster admitted there's a degree of experimentation about the backline, where he's hoping to find the best way to use the sizzling pace of the back three, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Sosene Anesi and Sailosi Tagicakibau.

"I like the way Niva's grown since we brought him in on a training basis in December," Foster said.

"He's taken a sniff of an opportunity, but it's a big step from second-division NPC to Super 12."

The Sharks are without their Springbok skipper and hooker John Smit, who has a rib injury. Rugged AJ Venter leads them tomorrow and they have former test lock Albert van den Berg back after an injury break.

The Robinson Report

* The six-test All Black damaged his back after being a standout in the tests against England and the Pacific Islands last year.

* Suffered a calf injury in comeback for Waikato against North Harbour last July and had knee surgery.

* Twinged a hamstring at training last week, but is back in the Super 12 after half a club game at Easter.