Super Rugby leaders the Chiefs have made five personnel changes to their starting 15 to face the Lions, two of them forced by injury.

Experienced loose forward Liam Messam will miss the match at Pukekohe on Saturday night because of a rib problem.

Sam Cane comes in at openside flanker in a rejigged loose trio, with Tanerau Latimer moving to the other side of the scrum to take over from Messam.

Winger Tim Nanai-Williams is out with a recurring groin injury and has been replaced by Asaeli Tikoirotuma.

In other changes, prop Sona Taumalolo, who has played every minute of the Chiefs’ campaign so far, gets a spell on the bench.

Taumalolo, whose six touchdowns make him the competition’s equal top try-scorer, switches places with Toby Smith.

Lock Brodie Retallick gets his first rest of the season, dropping out of the 22, with his spot in the run-on side going to Michael Fitzgerald, while Kane Thompson returns at No.8 after a minor neck injury.

Chiefs: Andrew Horrell, Lelia Masaga, Richard Kahui, Sonny Bill Williams, Asaeli Tikoirotuma, Aaron Cruden, Brendon Leonard, Kane Thompson, Sam Cane, Tanerau Latimer, Michael Fitzgerald, Craig Clarke (capt), Ben Tameifuna, Hika Elliot, Toby Smith. Res: Mahonri Schwalger, Sona Taumalolo, Alex Bradley, Scott Waldrom, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Jackson Willison, Maritino Nemani.