The NSW Waratahs will have three less All Blacks to worry about, including superstar fullback Mils Muliaina, in Friday's Super 14 clash with the Chiefs.

Captain Muliaina (back), No.8 Sione Lauaki and one-Test winger Sosene Anesi (both hamstring) are all out of the Sydney Football Stadium match, dealing a blow to a side which had declared it was ready to express itself with speed against the `Tahs.

Muliaina's loss is a huge blow, particularly as the strain in his back occurred during a team video session and not during last week's narrow loss to champions the Crusaders.

The No.15 felt a twinge when he stood up from his chair and a flight to an away game made the decision easier for Chiefs medical staff.

"Certainly it is a significant loss so it's not something that you want to have happen each week but that's the nature of the competition," Chiefs coach Ian Foster told reporters on Wednesday.

"It's been a little bit of a disruptive couple of days but we've arrived here, the squad that we've brought here's still very keen and determined."

Star centre Richard Kahui has missed training this week with a bruised hip but was named in the Hamilton-based side on Wednesday.

The Chiefs came close to toppling the new-look Crusaders, going down 19-13, and five-eighth Stephen Donald had blamed a move away from his side's natural game for the loss.

"When you look at some of the personnel we've got, us going into our cages is the worst thing possible for us," he told the Waikato Times.

"It's not rocket science that will get us back in there but the boys maybe chilling out and going back to what we do best."

That was an ominous warning for NSW, who have lost their past three matches against the unpredictable New Zealanders by a maximum of five points, and will still have to contend with speed demons Sitiveni Sivivatu and Lelia Masaga on the wings.

But the Waratahs believe their vaunted defence will stand them in good stead, whatever the visitors throw at them.

"We've probably got our strategies in place and they're not too dissimilar to the Hurricanes (who NSW beat 26-22 on Saturday)," centre Tom Carter told reporters on Wednesday.

"They like turning the ball over and shifting it with width and (they put on) some incredible one-on-one attacking plays ... so we obviously need to minimise those threats.

"Our defence has always been well-renowned so that will be a key element again on Friday night."

Provided Kahui is fit, one backline battle sure to be decisive is the one between the All Blacks Test centre and in-form Waratahs young gun Rob Horne.

"He's obviously been given a bit of a free rein as a commission and has dealt with it well so he's one of a number of threats that we've got to consider," Foster said of Horne.

"They look very settled and they look a good unit, they look disciplined.

"Quite frankly, with their record last year, you'd have to put them at the end as one of the top teams.

"I'm sure they'd be feeling confident ... but so are we and we can play."

Chiefs: Mike Delany, Lelia Masaga, Richard Kahui, Callum Bruce, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Stephen Donald, Brendon Leonard, Colin Bourke, Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam (capt), Kevin O'Neill, Toby Lynn, Ben May, Hika Elliot, Sona Taumalolo. Res: Aled de Malmanche, James McGougan, Craig Clarke, Serge Lilo, Toby Morland, Dwayne Sweeney, James Wilson.

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