Aaron Cruden will start at flyhalf for the Chiefs against the Waratahs in Hamilton on Saturday.

Cruden, who returned to action from a broken thumb from the bench last week, bumps Gareth Anscombe to the bench, while there is an all-new midfield combination of Andrew Horrell and Tim Nanai-Williams, with Bundee Aki dropped to the bench and Charlie Ngatai out altogether. Nanai-Williams moves from fullback, with that position now taken by Tom Marshall.

Among the forwards, Liam Squire comes in at No 8, Liam Messam moves back to blindside flanker and Tanerau Latimer drops to the reserves. Jamie Mackintosh comes in at loosehead prop in place of Pauliasi Manu, who is on the bench.

Chiefs – 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Dwayne Sweeney, 13 Tim Nanai-Williams, 12 Andrew Horrell, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden (c), 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Liam Squire, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Matt Symons, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Subs: 16 Mahonri Schwalger, 17 Pauliasi Manu, 18 Josh Hohneck, 19 Mike Fitzgerald, 20 Tanerau Latimer, 21 Brad Weber, 22 Gareth Anscombe, 23 Bundee Aki.

Photo: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images