KEY POINTS:
The Chiefs insist they won't take their eye off the ball when they take on the seemingly hapless Lions in Johannesburg in the early hours of tomorrow morning.
A win over a team that last tasted victory in round one would keep the Chiefs within spitting distance of the Hurricanes, Stormers and Waratahs, regardless of other results, and take their quest for a semifinal spot to a final-round encounter with the Sharks in Durban.
Lose, and next week may notmatter. "I suppose it's fair to say that we have thought about that but there is no use looking ahead if we don't get the result we want [tomorrow],"captain Mils Muliaina said.
"That is all we have got to think about. If we lose we probably will be out of the running, so our focus this week is all about winning, doing the little things well and making sure that come next week we are still playingfor something."
Talking up the opposition - even one as consistently unsuccessful as the Lions - may be enshrined in rugby lore but there are genuine reasons to treat the Transvaal-based strugglers with caution.
For starters, the Chiefs will be under-strength, with their best tight forward, prop Simms Davison, out with a back injury. Key backline defensive linchpin Richard Kahui (ankle) is also out and the Chiefshave been exposed when he hasbeen absent.
Returning Springbok centre Jaque Fourie will be out to do just that for the Lions, who, like the Chiefs, have travelled back from Downunder after completing a winless five-match tour.
The Lions showed glimpses of ability on that tour, particularly in first-half displays against the Crusaders, Waratahs and Brumbies. The Crusaders and the Waratahs ran away with their matches in the second halves but the Brumbies were pushed all the way to the wire in Canberra.
"They have shown that they can play every good rugby," Chiefs coach Ian Foster said.
"They haven't had a lot of luck but they have showed a lot of passion.We are expecting a pretty tough battleup front."
To combat the Lions' physicality, the Chiefs have named regular skipper Jono Gibbes on the bench for the first time since he was injured in round three against the Hurricanes.
Foster said the decision not to start Gibbes was a vote of confidence in Toby Lynn and Kevin O'Neill, but there must also be concerns about Gibbes' lack of match fitness,particularly given the altitude factor at Ellis Park.
Foster said Gibbes, who looked to be declining in mobility even before his latest injury, would make a meaningful contribution. "If we weren't confident that he was fit to play he wouldn't be in the 22."
The Lions may be bottom of the table but they haven't always been easy-beats this season, particularly at home. A 55-10 drubbing by the Blues in round two aside, they haven't lost by more than eight points at home.
"As we learned last week, it is the teams underneath you that are desperate to prove a point and we know how hard they are going to come at us."
Johannesburg, 3.05am tomorrow
LIONS
Earl Rose
Louis Ludik
Jaque Fourie
Walter Venter
Rayno Benjamin
J. van Schalkwyk
Jano Vermaak
Willem Alberts
Joe van Niekerk
C. Grobbelaar (c)
Gerhard Mostert
Dewald Senekal
J.C. Rensburg
W. Wepener
H. van der Merwe
CHIEFS
Mils Muliaina (c)
Lelia Masaga
Dwayne Sweeney
Callum Bruce
Sitiveni Sivivatu
Stephen Donald
Jamie Nutbrown
Sione Lauaki
Tanerau Latimer
Liam Messam
Kevin O'Neill
Toby Lynn
Ben Castle
Tom Willis
Ben May
Lions: Ethienne Reynecke, Ross Geldenhuys, Franco van der Merwe, Willem Johannes Koch, Chris Jonck, Jannie Boshoff, Dusty Noble.
Chiefs: Aled de Malmanche, Simon Lemalu, Jono Gibbes, Faifili Levave, David Bason, Viliame Waqaseduadua, Sosene Anesi.
