Chiefs head coach Dave Rennie has selected a vastly experienced line-up for the side's opening game of the season at the Highlanders.
The starting XV features 10 players with All Blacks experience, interlaced with several gutsy high performers looking to make a statement.
Flanker Mitch Karpik, 21, is one of four exciting young players in line to make their Super Rugby debut for the Chiefs this week.
He's joined in the starting line-up by 21-year-old Taranaki livewire Johnny Faauli who will start his first game at centre, while 19-year-old Waikato hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho and Counties Manukau scrum-half Jonathan Taumateine, 20, could earn their first caps off the bench.
All Black tighthead Nepo Laulala will also don the jersey for the first time after returning from a knee injury sustained in January 2016.
"I feel like a 10-year-old kid again, I am just really excited to lace up my boots and play some rugby." said hard-working flanker Karpik.
Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Johnny Faauli, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden (c), 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Liam Messam, 7 Mitchell Karpik, 6 Taleni Seu, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Kane Hames
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi, 18 Atu Moli, 19 Mitchell Brown, 20 Lachlan Boshier, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 Tim Nanai-Williams, 23 Shaun Stevenson
Date: Friday, February 24
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick-off: 19:35 local (08:35 GMT)
Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand), Jamie Nutbrown (New Zealand)
TMO: Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)
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