There are match-ups all over the field when the Chiefs take on the Highlanders in Hamilton tomorrow night. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks at three games within games which will be worth watching.
Ben Smith v Damian McKenzie
The All Black against the All Black in waiting.
McKenzie has been the next big thing for the past couple of years but he has really exploded on the scene this year as he moves to the back.
It looks as if a good breeze would knock him over but he is actually quite tough and does not shirk any of the rough stuff.
Electric with the ball in hand and has a great knack in finding the tryline.
Not the greatest defender but gets round the paddock and tackles with plenty of heart.
Is also a very tidy goalkicker although kicking responsibility looks to have returned to Aaron Cruden.
Smith has made every post the winning one in the past couple of seasons.
An efficient, elegant operator who always seems to make the right calls. The best in the business at the moment.
Very dependable and got the ability to turn defence into attack.
Lima Sopoaga v Aaron Cruden
Cruden is the key for the Chiefs. The first year the side won the title in 2012, he played every minute of every game.
Knows when to push the attack to the full throttle and also has a kicking game that is effective if not that easy to watch.
Coming back from a serious knee injury, his class has quickly shone through and he can roll his side on to attack with ease.
When Cruden was injured last year, Sopoaga got his call-up into the black jersey and put in a more than good effort in his only test - against the Springboks, at Johannesburg.
His kicking has come on heaps in the past couple of years and the ability to guide the side round the field has improved greatly in the past 18 months.
Needs perhaps to get more out of his running game and take the opposition on to keep it guessing.
Aaron Smith v Brad Weber
Two pocket rockets who will spur each other on.
Smith is playing as well as ever. One does not want to think about what the Highlanders would be like without him in the starting line-up.
Best in the world by some distance at clearing the ball and a kicking game which puts the opposition under pressure.
Makes the hard things look easy.
Weber has faced competition to get the start for the Chiefs but has seen off all pretenders to wear the No9 jersey.
Tremendous support player who has turned up at just the right time when tries are on offer.
Has improved his passing game and also taking the right option.
The Chiefs have a rugged set of forwards and Weber gets them involved just enough to be effective.