The Chiefs will almost certainly head into their final home match of the season against the Reds tomorrow without two of the key contributors to the five-match winning run that has catapulted them into playoff contention.
Form prop Simms Davison has an upper leg strain and has beenreplaced by Ben May, while All Blacks halfback Brendon Leonard is out of the starting 15 and unlikely to feature on the bench. Jamie Nutbrown has been named to start in his place.
Coach Ian Foster has bracketed three players with niggling injuries for a game his red hot side should win comfortably.
Davison, Leonard and second five-eighths Callum Bruce, who missed last week's victory over the Crusaders with a foot injury, have all been named on the bench but Foster is unlikely to risk any of them ahead of the season ending tour to Perth and South Africa.
Foster said niggling injuries had forced the changes but he may have made them regardless following the high intensity clash with the Crusaders.
"We've got a lot of confidence in Ben," Foster said. "He had a few starts early and has become an integral part of our mix, so it is good for him to have a start. And Brendon's knee is still pretty sore. We don't think he is going to be right to even strip on the bench so it became an easy call to give Nutty the nod."
Leonard has been bracketed with David Bason, while Murray Williams provides the cover for Bruce and wider training group prop Simon Lemalu does likewise for Davison.
Foster won't settle on his final 22 until late tomorrow.
He said the Reds represented a significant challenge having come off a good win over the Western Force last Friday night.
Improvement, however, wouldn't have been hard for a side that won just two games and garnered 11 competition points last year. Friday's victory over the Force was their third this season but they are still 10th and well off the playoff pace.
Prop Rodney Blake has been recalled to the starting side but skipper Sam Cordingley has failed to overcome a calf injury. Winger Digby Ioane returns from a broken finger and is on the bench.
