Rugby: Chiefs looking to lessen the load on starting props

Chiefs starters Angus Ta'avao and Aidan Ross have dispelled the notion prop should be taken off around the 60-minute mark this season, playing deep into Super Rugby clashes.

However, Chiefs coach Colin Cooper suggested they might be in line for lesser workloads this weekend against the Blues to give the likes of Jeff Thwaites and Karl Tu'inukuafe more game time.

"I don't think we've been smart enough in using the four properly," Cooper admitted. "We've overloaded the top two. We've just got to get better there."

Being smarter has been a theme for Cooper throughout the early stages of the campaign, imploring his side to player smarter on the pitch.

Despite beginning the season with four wins from five matches, Cooper believed if they played smarter at times they would be more of a threat.

The Hamilton club were expecting to meet a fierce challenge from the Blues on Saturday night, after the Auckland club were embarrassed at home by the Sharks last week.

Losing at home is never easy. Losing and giving up 63 points in the process, that's something else entirely.

Cooper said the desire to bounce back from such a loss made the Blues that much more dangerous.

"Every team will bring a different edge every week," Cooper said. "You have to do your preparation well, and you've got to do your planning well."

The Blues, who have started the year with just one win from five matches, have struggled to keep points out so fair this year, and have already been beaten by the Chiefs once during the campaign.

"We'll treat them with a lot of respect. They've got a lot of individual brilliance spread among that team, so if we take them lightly we'll come second," Cooper said.

"They've just got so many x-factor players right through that group...we've got a lot of respect for them."