Chiefs without most of their star players against British and Irish Lions

The Chiefs will be without most of their star players ahead of their match against the British and Irish Lions tonight.

Coach Dave Rennie have already lost Brodie Retallick, Sam Cane and Anton Lienert‑Brown for the All Blacks.

Now the other players who will miss out including James Lowe, Charlie Ngatai, Damian McKenzie and Tawera Kerr‑Barlow while Hika Elliot and Liam Messam will come off the bench.

The deciding factor in the Lions’ wins over the Crusaders and Maori All Blacks has been if the home side’s pack can live with what the Lions have to offer upfront in the set‑piece.

Dominic Bird and Nepo Laulala are both All Blacks but with no Nathan Harris at hooker and Elliot on the bench this will be a big test for 22‑year‑old Liam Polwart at hooker for the Chiefs, to both hold his own at the scrum and keep the Chiefs lineout ticking over.

The Chiefs will host the British and Irish Lions at 7.35 tonight.

Chiefs:

15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Tim Nanai‑Williams, 12 Johnny Faauli, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Stephen Donald (c), 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Tom Sanders, 7 Lachlan Boshier, 6 Mitchell Brown, 5 Michael Allardice, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Liam Polwart, 1 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi

Replacements: 16 Hika Elliott, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 Atu Moli, 19 Liam Messam, 20 Mitchell Karpik, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 Luteru Laulala, 23 Chase Tiatia

British and Irish Lions:

15 Liam Williams, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Jared Payne, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Elliot Daly, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Greig Laidlaw, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 James Haskell, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 Iain Henderson, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Rory Best (c), 1 Joe Marler

Replacements: 16 Kristian Dacey, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Tomas Francis, 19 Cory Hill, 20 Alun Wyn Jones, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Finn Russell, 23 Tommy Seymour