Injury ends Leitch's season

The Chiefs team to play the Waratahs in a Round 14 encounter - the last before the June break - shows one injury-forced change to the starting XV that trumped the Melbourne Rebels 36-15 last Saturday.

Tom Sanders is promoted from the bench to start at No.8, after Japan captain Michael Leitch sustained a hand injury against the Rebels.

Leitch requires surgery for a dislocated thumb and will be sidelined for eight to 10 weeks.

Lachlan Boshier joins the reserves as loose forward cover.

Others not considered for selection due to injury include Nepo Laulala, Mitchell Karpik, Johan Bardoul, Pauliasi Manu, Sam Henwood, Tevita Koloamatangi, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Glen Fisiiahi, Charlie Ngatai, Sam McNicol and Chase Tiatia.

Augustine Pulu is preparing with the New Zealand Sevens team for the Olympic Games and Shaun Stevenson is with the New Zealand Under-20 team ahead of next month's Junior World Championship.

Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Seta Tamanivalu, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden (co-captain), 9 Brad Weber, 8 Tom Sanders, 7 Sam Cane (co-captain), 6 Taleni Seu, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Hiroshi Yamashita, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Mitchell Graham.

Replacements: 6 Hika Elliot, 17 Kane Hames, 18 Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, 19 Michael Allardice, 20 Lachlan Boshier, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Andrew Horrell, 23 Sam Vaka.

Date: Friday, May 27

Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Kick-off: 19.40 (21.40 NZ time; 09.40 GMT)

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Jaco van Heerden (South Africa), Ed Martin (Australia)

TMO: Peter Marshall