SOUTH AFRICA — Liam Messam is poised to become the first Chief to play in 100 Super Rugby games when the champions face the Kings at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Once again Chiefs coach Dave Rennie has made several changes to his starting line-up. Prop Toby Smith, lock Michael Fitzgerald, back-row Tanerau Latimer and Andrew Horrell all make the XV.
Hooker Rhys Marshall comes onto the bench after flying over from New Zealand during the week after Mahonri Schwalger came home due to injury.
The Chiefs will celebrate Messam's milestone the following week at Waikato Stadium when they play the Highlanders on March 22 and encourage Chiefs fans to get behind the impressive loose forward.
Messam started his representative career with the New Zealand U16 Secondary Schools and played for the New Zealand U19s and U21s. He played for the New Zealand Sevens team in 2002, was made captain in 2004 and named NZ Sevens player of that year.
He won his first Commonwealth Games gold medal at Melbourne in 2006 and made it a double by winning another in Delhi in 2010.
Messam made his All Blacks debut in 2008. He has been a part of the Maori All Blacks since 2006 and has captained the side. He has also won a National Provincial Championship and the Ranfurly Shield with Waikato.
Chiefs: 15 Gareth Anscombe, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Tim Nanai-Williams, 12 Andrew Horrell, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Ross Filipo, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Michael Fitzgerald, 4 Craig Clarke (c), 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Toby Smith.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Marshall, 17 Pauliasi Manu, 18 Brodie Retallick, 19 Sam Cane, 20 Augustine Pulu, 21 Charlie Ngatai, 22 Patrick Osborne.