Super 14 previews for this weekend's round five action (all times AEDT):

FRIDAY, MARCH 14

CHIEFS v STORMERS at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, 17.35pm
Last meeting: Stormers 21-16 in Cape Town, February 2, 2007

Did the Stormers finally come good four weeks in and on the other side of the world, or were Queensland just that bad in losing 34-16 last week? That question should be answered in Waikato where the 10th placed South African side will meet the ninth placed Chiefs who scraped home 22-20 against the cellar dwelling Cheetahs last week. Chiefs midfielder Richard Kahui returns to inside centre after two weeks out with an ankle injury with captain Mils Muliaina moving from fullback to outside centre, Lelia Masaga starting on the wing and Sosene Anesi moving to fullback. In the only change to the Stormers line-up, influential flanker Schalk Burger returns after a two-game suspension for unsportsmanlike behaviour.
TAB Sportsbet (NSW): Chiefs $1.45, Stormers $2.65
Tip: Stormers by 10

Chiefs: Sosene Anesi, Lelia Masaga, Mils Muliaina (capt), Richard Kahui, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Stephen Donald, Brendon Leonard, Liam Messam, Tom Harding, Faifili Levave, Kevin O'Neill, Toby Lynn, Ben May, Tom Willis, Simms Davison. Res: Vern Kamo, Ben Castle, Hayden Hopgood, Sione Lauaki, Tanerau Latimer, David Bason, Callum Bruce.

Stormers: Conrad Jantjes, Tonderai Chavhanga, Gcobani Bobo, Jean de Villiers (capt), Sireli Naqelevuki, Peter Grant, Ricky Januarie, Luke Watson, Francois Louw, Schalk Burger, Andries Bekker, Adriaan Fondse, Brian Mujati, Schalk Brits, JD Moller. Res: Deon Fourie, Brok Harris, Ross Skeate, Robbie Diack, Bolla Conradie, Gio Aplon, Dylan des Fountain.

BRUMBIES v HURRICANES at Canberra Stadium, Canberra, 7.40pm
Last meeting: Hurricanes 11-10 in Wellington, February 23, 2007

Parked in mid-table, the Brumbies play the first of two must-win home games before their bye. The Hurricanes, who are two places and three points above the Brumbies, are renowned for their attacking flair, but also boast the third best defensive record in the competition. The unchanged Brumbies will look to improve their lineout performance. The Hurricanes will be without winger Ma'a Nonu (suspended) and prop John Schwalger (injured), but All Blacks forwards Chris Masoe and Neemia Tialata are back from injury.
TAB Sportsbet: Brumbies $2.00, Hurricanes $1.80
Tip: Hurricanes by 6

Brumbies: Mark Gerrard, Peter Playford, Sanualio Afeaki, Tyrone Smith, Francis Fainifo, Christian Lealiifano, Patrick Phibbs, Stephen Hoiles, George Smith (capt), Mitchell Chapman, Mark Chisholm, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Salesi Ma'afu, Saia Faingaa, Nic Henderson. Res: Huia Edmonds, Ben Alexander, Peter Kimlin, Julian Salvi, Joshua Holmes, Matt Toomua, Tim Wright

Hurricanes: Cory Jane, Shannon Paku, Conrad Smith, Tamati Ellison, Hosea Gear, Jimmy Gopperth, Piri Weepu, Rodney So'oailo (capt), Chris Masoe, Jerry Collins, Jason Eaton, Craig Clarke, Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore, Jacob Ellison. Res: Hikawera Elliott, Tim Fairbrother, Jeremy Thrush, Scott Waldrom, Alby Mathewson, Wille Ripia, Tane Tu'ipulotu.

SATURDAY, MARCH 15

BLUES v WESTERN FORCE at North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, 3.30pm
Last meeting: Blues 33-6 in Perth, May 4, 2007

After an honourable home loss to the rampaging Crusaders last week, the Force face the daunting task of toppling a Blues outfit smarting from their first loss of the campaign away to the Sharks. Prop Troy Takiari replaces the injured Gareth Hardy while Force coach John Mitchell has recalled James Stannard at halfback in place of Chris O'Young. The Force must control possession and make first up tackles to beat a Blues outfit in which Anthony Boric's inclusion in the pack at the expense of Kurtis Haiu is the only change.
TAB Sportsbet: Blues $1.16, Force $4.75
Tip: Blues by 9.

Blues: Ben Atiga, Anthony Tuitavake, Isaia Toeava, Benson Stanley, Joe Rokocoko, Nick Evans, Danny Lee, Nick Williams, Justin Collins, Jerome Kaino, Troy Flavell (capt), Anthony Boric, John Afoa, Kven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Res: Tom McCartney, Nick White, Kurtis Haiu, Onosai Tololima-Auva'a, Taniela Moa, Rudi Wulf, George Pisi

Force: Cameron Shepherd, Scott Staniforth, Ryan Cross, Lachlan MacKay, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, James Stannard, Richard Brown, David Pocock, Scott Fava, Nathan Sharpe (capt), Tom Hockings, AJ Whalley, Tai McIsaac, Troy Takiari. Reserves: Luke Holmes, Pek Cowan, Sam Wykes, Tamaiti Horua, Chris O'Young, Scott Daruda, Nick Cummins.

CRUSADERS v CHEETAHS at AMI Stadium, Christchurch, 5.35pm
Last meeting: Crusaders 49-28 in Bloemfontein, February 24, 2007

First versus last and should be a formality for the Crusaders, especially as Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has made eight changes in naming a youthful side. However, the Crusaders have just completed a massive amount of travel - two weeks in South Africa, then Perth on the way home - and Robbie Deans has made six changes of his own to "freshen up" his side. Crusaders No.8 Nasi Manu and hooker Ti'i Paulo will make their first Super 14 starts among five changes in the forwards, none of them injury-related. The Cheetahs gave the Chiefs a run for their money last week and the ingredients for an upset are there if the Crusaders are complacent, however ridiculous that might sound.
TAB Sportsbet: Crusaders $1.04, Cheetahs $9.00
Tip: Crusaders by 20

Crusaders: Leon MacDonald, Scott Hamilton, Casey Laulala, Stephen Brett, Sean Maitland, Daniel Carter, Andrew Ellis, Nasi Manu, Richard McCaw (capt), Reuben Thorne, Michael Paterson, Brad Thorn, Ben Franks, Ti'i Paulo, Wyatt Crockett. Res: Corey Flynn, Campbell Johnstone, Ali Williams, Mose Tuiali'i. Kahn Fotuali'i, Caleb Ralph, Kieran Read

Cheetahs: Hennie Daniller; Eddie Fredericks, JW Jonker, Hendrik Meyer, Jongi Nokwe, Conrad Barnard, Tewis de Bruyn, Kabamba Floors, Darron Nell, Hendro Scholtz (capt), David de Villiers, Flip van der Merwe, Kobus Calldo, Richardt Strauss, Ronnie Uys. Res: Adriaan Strauss, Wian du Preez, Barend Pieterse, Duanne Vermeulen, Tobie Botes, Falie Oelschig, Meyer Bosman.

REDS v BULLS at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane 8.05pm
Last Meeting: Bulls 92-3 in Pretoria, May 5, 2007

Reds coach Phil Mooney has made six changes to his side in a bid to revive their flagging fortunes. He replaced long serving flanker David Croft with the uncapped Poutasi Luafutu and handed the captaincy from Queensland's other talismanic back-rower John Roe to halfback Sam Cordingley. Talented young back Quade Cooper has been recalled at five-eighth, with Berrick Barnes and Morgan Turinui each moving out one position. Morne Steyn has replaced the suspended Zane Kirchner in the only change to a Bulls outfit looking to build on a last start win over the Lions. Expect a more competitive Queensland effort.
TAB Sportsbet: Reds $2.50, Bulls $1.50
Tip: Bulls by 8

Reds: Chris Latham, Clinton Schifcofske, Morgan Turinui, Berrick Barnes, Peter Hynds, Quade Cooper, Sam Cordingley (capt), Leroy Houston, Poutasi Luafutu, John Roe, James Horwill, Van Humphries, Dayna Edwards, Sean Hardman, Greg Holmes. Res: Stephen Moore, Rodney Blake, Ed O'Donoghue, David Croft, Ben Lucas, Brando Va'aulu, Scott Higginbotham.

Bulls: Morne Steyn, Akona Ndungane, JP Nel, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana, Derick Hougaard, Fourie Du Preez (capt), Pedrie Wannenburg, Wikus van Heerden, Danie Rossouw, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Bakkies Botha, Rayno Gerber, Derick Kuun, Gurthro Steenkamp. Res: James van der Walt, Werner Kruger, Dean Greyling, Deon Stegmann, Heini Adams, Stephanus Christiaan Dippenaar, Dewald Johan Potgieter

SUNDAY, MARCH 16

LIONS v SHARKS at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, 2.00am
Last meeting: Sharks 33-3 in Durban, April 28, 2007

The second-placed Sharks underlined their credentials as South Africa's best side with an impressive 22-17 win over the Blues in Durban last week. Coach Dick Muir has a wealth of talent at his disposal and will rest flyhalf Frederic Michalak on the bench with Frans Steyn moving from fullback to No.10. Also on a star-studded bench will be forward AJ Venter, returning from a leg injury, and halfback Ruan Pienaar, who is back after a collarbone problem. The Lions couldn't get a win over the Bulls last week even after their local rivals went down to 14 men. But coach Eugene "Loffie" Eloff remained upbeat in his website column this week: "This is not the perfect start we had in mind for the 2008 Super 14 ... and in retrospection, we should have won three out of our four matches so far, instead of just one," he wrote.
TAB Sportsbet: Lions $5.00, Sharks $1.15
Tip: Sharks by 20

Lions: to be named

Sharks: Stefan Terblanche, Odwa Ndungane, Waylon Murray, Bradley Barritt, JP Pietersen, Francois Steyn, Rory Kockott, Ryan Kankowski, Jacques Botes, Keegan Daniel, Johann Muller (captain), Albert van den Berg, BJ Botha, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira. Res: Craig Bruce Burden, Jannie du Plessis, AJ Venter, Jean Roy Deysel, Ruan Pienaar, Frederic Michalak, Adrian Abraham Jacobs

BYE: NSW WARATAHS, HIGHLANDERS

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