Official team lists and injury news for the Chiefs v Crusaders final.
Chiefs v Crusaders
7pm Saturday, June 24
FMG Stadium, Hamilton
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan has made just one change to his line-up for Super Rugby Pacific, dropping newly selected All Blacks flanker Samipeni Finau to the bench, with Pita Gus Sowakula taking the No.6 jersey.
Otherwise, the squad is the same that fronted for last week's semi-final win over the Brumbies, including eight named in the All Blacks' Rugby Championship squad.
Damian McKenzie will steer the ship from No.10, with Sam Cane and Brad Weber co-captaining for the last time, before the halfback heads offshore. After a standout Super Rugby campaign, fullback Shaun Stevenson has another chance to push for national selection, after his inclusion only as an injury back-up.
Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Samisoni-Taukei'aho, 3-George Dyer, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Tupou Vaa'i, 6-Pita Gus Sowakula, 7-Sam Cane, 8-Luke Jacobson, 9-Brad Weber, 10-Damian McKenzie, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Anton Lienert-Brown, 13-Alex Nankivell, 14-Emoni Narawa, 15-Shaun Stevenson
Reserves: 16-Tyrone Thompson, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-John Ryan, 19-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20-Samipeni Finau, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Josh Ioane, 23-Rameka Poihipi
Veteran lock Sam Whitelock has been named to start his final outing for the Crusaders, when they defend their Super Rugby Pacific crown against the Chiefs.
Whitelock, 34, did not emerge from halftime in his team's regular-season finale against the Hurricanes, and missed playoff victories over Fijian Drua and the Blues, with a bothersome Achilles tendon niggle.
With the Rugby World Cup looming, the Crusaders have taken a cautious approach to his injury.
Whitelock has confirmed he will take up a contract with French club Pau, where brother Luke is already on the roster, making the Super Rugby Pacific final likely his last appearance for his beloved Crusaders.
His inclusion will see Quinten Strange slip back to the bench, replacing loose forward Corey Kellow, while George Bell steps in for Brodie McAlister as the back-up hooker.
Crusaders: 1-Tamaiti Williams, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Oli Jager, 4-Scott Barrett, 5-Sam Whitelock, 6-Sioni Talitui, 7-Tom Christie, 8-Christian Lio-Willie, 9-Mitch Drummond, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12-Jack Goodhue, 13-Braydon Ennor, 14-Dallas McLeod, 15-Will Jordan
Reserves: 16-George Bell, 17-Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 18-Reuben O'Neill, 19-Quinten Strange, 20-Dominic Gardner, 21-Willi Heinz, 22-Fergus Burke, 23-Chay Finaki
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