The Hurricanes are gearing up for their semi-final clash with the Chiefs, with All Black prop Tyrel Lomax making a return to the side after a five-week injury layoff. This comes as a timely boost for the team, although they will be without loosehead Xavier Numia due to a calf injury, with Pouri Rakete-Stones stepping in.
In their last encounter, the Hurricanes managed to secure a narrow victory over the Chiefs with a disciplined second-half performance that saw them capitalize on scrum penalties. Skipper Brad Shields will be back in action alongside Justin Sangster and Isaia Walker-Leawere in the pack, while Peter Lakai and Brayden Iose will be looking to impress for potential All Black selection.
Coach Clark Laidlaw is expecting a tough challenge from the Chiefs but is excited about the opportunity to play in front of a large home crowd at Sky Stadium. With over 25,000 fans expected to attend, the Hurricanes are aiming to put on a performance that they can be proud of.
The match is set to kick off at 4.35pm on Saturday, June 15th, with live blog coverage available on RNZ Sport. The Hurricanes lineup includes a mix of experienced players like TJ Perenara and emerging talents such as Ruben Love, all eager to make an impact in the crucial semi-final showdown.