The Highlanders will tomorrow night ask star import Freddie Burns to dig a little miracle out of his back pocket when they host the runaway Chiefs at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Burns has been entrusted with the No 10 jersey for just the second time after fully recovering from a foot injury.
His career has included test caps for his native England and untold heroics for his beloved Leicester Tigers, but it might be fair to say this challenge — leading a faltering Highlanders team against the rampant Chiefs, and facing the ridiculously in-form and confident Damian McKenzie — is as big as any.
"Freddie obviously has come back from injury and hasn’t actually played much for us," Highlanders coach Clarke Dermody said yesterday.
"These are the games we got him over for. He’s hugely experienced, he can control a game, and hopefully he can unlock our backline.
"The good players look forward to these games, and I know he’s looking forward to playing with Aaron [Smith], because it’s the first game he will have played with him."
Mitch Hunt has started seven times for the Highlanders this season but, like many of his team-mates, was not at the top of his game on the disappointing Australian tour.
In other changes to the backline, Sam Gilbert switches from second five to fullback, Connor Garden-Bachop moves to the wing in place of Jonah Lowe, and Thomas Umaga-Jensen returns to the No 12 jersey.
Highlanders captain Billy Harmon, who missed the loss to the Waratahs with a family bereavement, reclaims the starting openside role from Sean Withy.
Lowe, No 8 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u and lock Pari Pari Parkinson drop out of the 23 altogether.
"We’ve got selection pressure now we’ve got our injuries back, so it’s up to the guys that get the opportunity to nail the performance, so we can keep a settled selection," Dermody said.
"That’s probably something we haven’t been able to do, through injuries and form."
Star winger Jona Nareki remains on the bench despite getting through the last quarter fine in Sydney after his injury comeback.
"We don’t want to rush him. He was obviously a bit rusty against the Waratahs but hopefully we can get him a bit more time against the Chiefs and set him up for the back end of the season."
Scott Gregory was something of an unexpected starter on the left wing last week but impressed Dermody with his work rate, aerial ability and tracking back.
The coach pointed out the Chiefs were the most prolific kicking side in Super Rugby, so having players prepared to put in a huge shift was important.
"These are the games the players really look forward to — testing themselves against the best.
"The Chiefs have been the stand-out best, obviously. They haven’t been beaten this year. But just imagine if we beat them here."
The Highlanders do not have the sheer talent of the Chiefs so they will need every last man to produce something special, and show a bit more composure in the unlikely event they get into a winning position.
"They are fighting hard," Dermody said.
"I guess the disappointing thing over the last couple of weeks was the performance at the back end of the game. Both games, we put ourselves in a position to win , and we didn’t execute the last 20 minutes.
"The Chiefs play for 80 minutes, as we saw last week against the Crusaders, so that’s going to be the challenge and that’s what we expect of the boys this week."
All Blacks midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown returns from his long injury layoff to play his 100th game for the Chiefs, and Peniasi Malimali gets his first start of the season with winger Etene Nanai-Seturo getting the week off.
Pita Gus Sowakula replaces Samipeni Finau on the blindside flank, and Brodie Retallick misses the game due to a groin strain.
Highlanders v Chiefs
The teams
Highlanders: Sam Gilbert, Connor Garden-Bachop, Fetuli Paea, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Scott Gregory, Freddie Burns, Aaron Smith, Hugh Renton, Billy Harmon (captain), Shannon Frizell, Will Tucker, Fabian Holland, Jermaine Ainsley, Andrew Makalio, Ethan de Groot. Reserves: Rhys Marshall, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Saula Ma'u, Josh Dickson, Sean Withy, Folau Fakatava, Mitch Hunt, Jona Nareki.
Chiefs: Shaun Stevenson, Emoni Narawa, Daniel Rona, Anton Lienert-Brown, Peniasi Malimali, Damian McKenzie, Brad Weber (co-captain), Luke Jacobson, Sam Cane (co-captain), Pita Gus Sowakula, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Tupou Vaa’i, George Dyer, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Aidan Ross. Reserves: Bradley Slater, Ollie Norris, John Ryan, Josh Lord, Kaylum Boshier, Cortez Ratima, Bryn Gatland, Alex Nankivell.
