Sam Cane will make his first 2019 Super Rugby start, when he captains the Chiefs against the visiting Reds on Friday night.
The All Blacks flanker had been on the shelf since October, after breaking his neck against the Springboks.
Cane had a decent run off the bench in last weekend's loss to the Blues and after emerging unscathed, he will return to the side of the scrum at FMG Stadium in Waikato.
Injury and All Blacks leave have led to a slight reshuffle up front for the Chiefs.
Flanker Mitchell Brown is out with a knee injury, while prop Angus Ta'avao has the week off. That means a start for Nepo Laulala in the front row, while the loose-forward trio consists of Cane, Lachlan Boshier and Pita Gus Soqakula.
Canadian Tyler Ardron will lock the scrum with Jesse Parete.
Anton Lienert-Brown also has a week off, meaning a start for the impressive Alex Nankivell in the Chiefs midfield.
Chiefs: 1-Atu Moli, 2-Nathan Harris, 3-Nepo Laulala, 4-Jesse Parete, 5-Tyler Ardron, 6-Sam Cane, 7-Lachlan Boshier, 8-Pita Gus Sowakula, 9-Brad Weber, 10-Marty McKenzie, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Alex Nankivell, 13-Tumua Manu, 14-Shaun Stevenson, 15-Solomon Alaimalo
Reserves: 16-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17-Aidan Ross, 18-Sosefo Kaufai, 19-Daymon Leasuasu, 20-Mitchell Karpick, 21-Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22-Jack Debreczeni, 23-Sean Wainui.
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