It's no secret that the Chiefs like to mix and match.
They've done so again for Friday night's highly anticipated Battle of the Bombays encounter against the Blues in Hamilton, with Michael Leitch back in the fold.
The back row has re-shuffled from the round one win over the Highlanders, with Leitch starting at No 8 and shifting Liam Messam to blindside flanker in place of Taleni Seu.
Sam Cane's continued absence (ankle) sees Lachlan Boshier take the No 7 jersey from Mitch Karpik, who drops out of the squad with Mitchell Brown, while Tom Sanders is promoted to the bench.
The Chiefs are expecting Cane to be involved when the Hurricanes visit next week, with Karpik and now Boshier being handed respective opportunities to start at openside flanker in the opening two rounds of Super Rugby.
Aaron Cruden will resume as captain in what will be his 100th Super Rugby game, with Tim Nanai-Williams replacing Toni Pulu on the right wing for his first Chiefs start since 2015.
Assistant coach Andrew Strawbridge said the changes from their 24-15 victory against the Highlanders in Dunedin last Friday were about rewarding players who deserve an opportunity, particularly at loose forward.
"It's probably no secret in the last six years that we've mixed and matched our loose forwards," Strawbridge said.
"We have been criticised for making changes but this is about reward for guys who've trained really, really hard, and it's about finding the ultimate mix for us.
"Lachlan has performed really well for us off the bench and Mitch [Karpik] has had quite a heavy load.
"He got through a power of work and got knocked around a lot last week [against the Highlanders]. It's two guys we have the utmost faith in trusting and giving them an opportunity."
Leitch is back to face a formidable Blues back row that features Akira Ioane, Blake Gibson and Steven Luatua, with Jerome Kaino on the bench.
The experienced 28-year-old's inclusion is a huge boost for the Chiefs, who've been keen to carefully manage his return after minimal playing time at this level since suffering a broken thumb last May.
Leitch has been with Toshiba Brave Lupus between August and January, but that thumb injury ruled him out for two months of Super Rugby. He recovered in time to be fit enough for the bench in the Chiefs' 25-9 semi-final loss against the Hurricanes last July.
Strawbridge said: "He's had a long rest from rugby. We were a bit guarded around our decisions with Michael. We wanted to check on his sharpness and he's guided us around this.
"But he's ready to go and he's an international No 8. We want him to get an opportunity early [in the season]. Having him back and having his level-head is wonderful for us."
The Blues have lost 10 in a row against the Chiefs, but they came close almost a year ago in Hamilton when Brodie Retallick's late try secured a 29-23 victory.
Strawbridge admits fortune favoured them in that contest, as the Chiefs fought back from trailing 20-10 in the second half.
But the Blues convincingly won a pre-season hit-out 26-14 less than two weeks ago.
"We got a touch up in pre-season," Strawbridge said. "They're definitely a team on the rise and we're going in with our eyes wide open."
AT A GLANCE
What: Chiefs v Blues
Where, when: FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton on Friday at 7:35pm.
Chiefs: Damian McKenzie, Tim Nanai-Williams, Anton Lienert-Brown, Johnny Faauli, James Lowe, Aaron Cruden (c), Tawera Kerr-Barlow; Michael Leitch, Lachlan Boshier, Liam Messam , Brodie Retallick, Dominic Bird, Nepo Laulala, Hika Elliot, Kane Hames. Reserves: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, Atu Moli, Taleni Seu, Tom Sanders, Jonathan Taumateine, Toni Pulu, Shaun Stevenson.
Blues: Michael Collins, Matt Duffie, Rieko Ioane, Piers Francis, Melani Nanai, Ihaia West, Augustine Pulu; Akira Ioane, Blake Gibson, Steven Luatua, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Jimmy Tupou (c), Sione Mafileo, Matt Moulds, Pauliasi Manu. Reserves: Hame Faiva, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Jerome Kaino, Billy Guyton, George Moala, Rene Ranger.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT (Michael Leitch returns for the Chiefs in a re-shuffled back row).