Chiefs coach Dave Rennie is adamant he has the personnel to plug the midfield gaps despite an offseason that saw the team lose two of its key members.
All Blacks Seta Tamanivalu and Sonny Bill Williams have both sought greener pastures with the former heading to the Crusaders and the latter moving up State Highway One to the Blues.
Stephen Donald is being considered as a possibility to start at second-five inside All Black centre Anton Lienert-Brown while the return of Tim Nanai-Williams and newcomer Johnny Fa'aui reinforces an area that may have initially been a worry for Rennie at the conclusion of the 2016 season.
Seen at training with his boots, there's still no call on how big of a role Charlie Ngatai will play at the Chiefs this season with the 26-year-old still confined to cardio and continuing a very long road back from a concussion injury suffered last year.
"He's getting better," Rennie said.
"Now coming in in the mornings and doing a little bit, we’re just going to build on that
"From a cardio point of view, around his heart rate, we'll up the ante a little bit and see how he copes with that."
Elsewhere on the park, Sam Cane looks a chance of playing after recovering from an ankle injury he picked up during the end of year tour.
"He's close. We'll make a call on Sam by Wednesday, but unless he's 100 percent we're not going to push it."
Starting halfback was one position Rennie was happy to confirm, with Tawera Kerr-Barlow to call the shots at nine after Brad Webber broke his leg at the recent Brisbane Tens.
The Chiefs kick off their Super Rugby season with a blockbuster match against the Highlanders - a team they've lost to six consecutive times – in Dunedin on Friday night.
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