Chiefs coach Dave Rennie will be without Tanerau Latimer and Craig Clarke when his side meet the Blues in Albany on Saturday night.
Flanker Sam Cane, fresh off the All Blacks wider training group camp gets a start due to Latimer's patellar tendonitis, while co-captain Clarke has a minor neck injury and has been replaced by Michael Fitzgerald.
With four fit props to choose from, Rennie has selected Chiefs top-try scorer Sona Taumalolo and Ben Afeaki along with newly re-signed hooker Mahonri Schwalger as his starting front row, with prop Ben Tameifuna on the bench.
Maritino Nemani swaps places in the No 14 jersey with Lelia Masaga who moves to the reserves, while lock Romana Graham gets his first call up for the season on the bench where he will be joined by loose forward Scott Waldrom and hooker Hika Elliot.
"The Blues are getting players back and are on the improve," Rennie said. "Games where the Chiefs play the Blues always have test match intensity and that's what we're preparing for."
