Gear to wing it for Chiefs

Hosea Gear will start on the wing in one of four changes to the Chiefs team to face the Highlanders on Friday.

Gear will return to the right wing against his old team in place of Bryce Heem, after sitting out last week's victory over the Crusaders.

The major changes come in the pack, where lock Brodie Retallick has been ruled out for up to to six weeks with a shoulder injury. The news means the current World Player of the Year is set to miss the Chiefs' tour of South Africa.

Michael Fitzgerald moves back to lock to fill the void, with Johan Bardoul coming in at blindside flank. Captain Liam Messam remains a doubt over a lingering concussion and has been bracketed with Maama Vaipulu at No 8.

Chiefs – 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Hosea Gear, 13 Charlie Ngatai, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Liam Messam/Maama Vaipulu, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Johan Bardoul, 5 Michael Fitzgerald, 4 Matt Symons, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Pauliasi Manu.
Subs: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Siate Tokolahi, 18 Mitchell Graham, 19 Michael Allardice, 20 Michael Leitch/Maama Vaipulu, 21 Brad Weber, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 Andrew Horrell.

Super Rugby teams (Round 4)

Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images