Rory Best will captain the British and Irish Lions against the Chiefs, with Sam Warburtonâs omission a boost in the Wales flankerâs bid for first Test selection.
Lions boss Warren Gatland has vowed to protect the potential squad for Saturdayâs first All Blacks Test by keeping the brunt of that 23 out of the firing line against the Chiefs on Tuesday.
Tour skipper Warburton is scrapping for full fitness after ankle trouble â but Gatland holding him back from facing the Chiefs indicates the Wales back-rower can still squeeze himself into the 23 for the first Test.
Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones takes a seat on the bench and will be itching to respond after Maro Itoje and George Kruis so impressed in Saturdayâs 32-10 win over the Maori All Blacks.
âWe are five games into the Tour and there is still a lot to play for,â said Lions head coach Gatland.
âThose involved on Tuesday will be playing not only for themselves in terms of further selection but also for the whole squad.â
Gatlandâs selections reveal at least part of his plans for Saturdayâs first Test against New Zealand at Aucklandâs Eden Park.
The bulk of the side that ground the Maori All Blacks into submission on Saturday will now head the queue to face Steve Hansenâs New Zealand this weekend.
The Lionsâ six mid-tour call-ups will all be on the bench for Tuesdayâs Chiefs clash in Hamilton. Wales quartet Cory Hill, Kristian Dacey, Gareth Davies and Tomas Francis have made the short trip from Auckland to link up with the Lions.
Scotlandâs Allan Dell and Finn Russell have jetted in from Australia and will also provide cover among the replacements.
âWe are here to win a Test series and we have brought cover for the replacements bench so we can limit the number of players who need to double up, which is tough to do at this level of rugby,â said Gatland.
âWe know it is going to be another big challenge against the Chiefs, who have won the Super Rugby title twice in the last five years.â
Tuesdayâs clash will represent the last chance for any of those involved to change Gatlandâs thinking ahead of the first All Blacks Test at Eden Park on Saturday.
The starting back three of Liam Williams, Jack Nowell and Elliot Daly could still be fighting it out for a seat on the bench for the Test opener.
Irelandâs bullish flanker CJ Stander will also want to press his own claims to be in the back-row picture for the Test.
But Peter OâMahony, Sean OâBrien and Taulupe Faletau remain the favourites to start in the back row against the All Blacks.