Sam Cane has returned to the Chiefs loose trio for Friday’s Super Rugby quarter-final against the Hurricanes in Wellington.

Cane’s return is one of five changes to the pack, with Liam Messam starting at No 8 after coming off the bench against the same opponents last weekend.

Michael Allardice forms a second-row combination with Brodie Retallick, while hooker Nathan Harris and prop Karl Tu’inukuafe will add their experience to the front row.

There are just two changes to the backline as Damian McKenzie takes up his position at flyhalf and Sean Wainui replaces Toni Pulu on the right wing.

Chiefs – 15 Solomon Alaimalo, 14 Sean Wainui, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Charlie Ngatai (c), 11 Shaun Stevenson, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Liam Messam, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Lachlan Boshier, 5 Michael Allardice, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe.
Subs: 16 Liam Polwart, 17 Sam Prattley, 18 Jeff Thwaites, 19 Jesse Parete, 20 Mitch Karpik, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Marty McKenzie, 23 Alex Nankivell.

Super Rugby teams (Quarter-finals)

Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images