The selectors have given the Rugby Park crowd the incentive to back the Highlanders by naming five Southland players in the run-on team to play the Chiefs on Saturday.
Captain Jimmy Cowan, lock Josh Bekhuis, prop Chris King and hooker David Hall have retained their spots and open-side flanker Tim Boys has replaced Alando Soakai.
Jason Rutledge is the reserve hooker and Kendrick Lynn could get a start if fullback Israel Dagg does not come through a fitness test today.
Dagg has a minor leg strain and has been bracketed with Ben Smith at fullback.
If Dagg does not play, Smith would move from the wing to fullback and Lynn would start on the right wing.
All Black prop Jamie Mackintosh, another Southlander, is still recovering from the strained meniscus in the back of his left knee he suffered in the opening game against the Brumbies at Carisbrook.
He is the only player on the injured list.
There are three definite changes to the starting line-up from the team that beat the Crusaders 6-0 at Carisbrook last Saturday to give the Highlanders their first win of the season.
The other two are Stephen Setephano, who has replaced George Naoupu at No 8, and Johnny Leota has been given the nod at second five-eighth ahead of Jayden Hayward.
The Chiefs also had their first win of the season when they beat the Force 31-13 at Hamilton last weekend.
Captain Mils Muliaina returns from injury to lead the Chiefs from fullback after recovering from a back strain that kept him from their last three matches.
He replaces Sosene Anesi at fullback while reclaiming the skipper's armband from flanker Liam Messam.
Muliaina grew up in Southland and will be playing on his old home-town turf at Invercargill's Rugby Park.
There are five changes in total from last week, including three in the back line.
Southland back James Wilson will make his Chiefs debut on the wing in place of All Black Sitiveni Sivivatu, who has an injured shoulder.
Jackson Willison replaces Callum Bruce at second five-eighth, while Toby Morland pushes halfback Brendon Leonard to the reserve bench in a surprise selection.
The only change up front sees Sona Taumalolo return at prop, with Ben May moving from loosehead to tighthead and James McGougan dropping to the reserve bench.
