The balance may have tipped in favour of the Hurricanes for Friday's Super 14 rugby semi-final after Chiefs centre Richard Kahui was ruled out with injury.

Kahui (calf muscle) joins halfback and fellow All Black Brendon Leonard (hamstring) in the stands for the Chiefs' home match.

Kahui, who sustained the injury during the Chiefs' 16-8 victory over the Hurricanes in what amounted to a dress rehearsal on May 9, missed the final regular season match against the Brumbies last weekend.

Kahui's unavailability is a significant setback for the Chiefs given fellow All Blacks Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith form arguably the most potent midfield in the competition for the Hurricanes.

Utility back Dwayne Sweeney is paired with Callum Bruce in the Chiefs centres.

Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper had the luxury of naming a team unchanged from last weekend's 37-28 win over the Queensland Reds.

For the Chiefs, he loss of prop Ben May to a season-ending knee-injury sees Hawke's Bay's Sona Taumololo promoted to the starting front row to start at loosehead.

Bay of Plenty's Joe Savage, named in the 22-man squad for only the second time this season, is promoted to the reserve bench.

Openside flanker Tanerau Latimer missed Monday's training session as he rested a neck strain but he has been passed fit to contemplate a breakdown duel with Scott Waldrom, who narrowly won the nod for the All Blacks' end-of-year tour last November as Richie McCaw's deputy.

Leonard's injury-ravaged season sees him sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained against the ACT Brumbies meaning Toby Morland starts against the Hurricanes for the second time this season.

Chiefs: Mils Muliaina (capt), Lelia Masaga, Dwayne Sweeney, Callum Bruce, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Stephen Donald, Toby Morland, Sione Lauaki, Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam, Kevin O'Neill, Craig Clarke, James McGougan, Aled de Malmanche, Sona Taumalolo. Res: Hika Elliot, Joe Savage, Toby Lynn, Serge Lilo, David Bason, Mike Delany, Sosene Anesi.

Hurricanes: Cory Jane, Tamati Ellison, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, David Smith, Willie Ripia, Piri Weepu, Rodney So'oialo (capt), Scott Waldrom, Victor Vito, Jason Eaton, Jeremy Thrush, Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore, John Schwalger. Res: Ged Robinson, Jacob Ellison, Bryn Evans, Karl Lowe, Alby Mathewson, Jason Kawau, Zac Guildford.

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