The Chiefs have a grand chance to force their way into the Super 12 top four in the next two weeks if they can pick up at least one win in South Africa and add some more bonus points.
They arrived in the the country on Monday morning to prepare for matches against the Cats and Sharks over the next two weeks.
Much may depend on the recovery of hooker Tom Willis and centre Keith Lowen from injuries suffered in last Friday night’s 36-31 win over the Highlanders at Carisbrook.
Willis has a painful disc injury to his back that flared up after the plane trip to Sydney on Saturday.
But he flew to Johannesburg with the team overnight where he will seek specialist treatment. As a precaution Waikato and New Zealand Colts hooker John Pareanga will fly to the republic tomorrow to join the squad, with number-one standby hooker Aleki Lutui of Bay of Plenty unable to get his visa papers through in time.
Lowen suffered a painful rib injury in a heavy tackle but X-rays revealed no fractures and he has shown considerable improvement.
”He’s definitely a chance for the first game,” team manager Glenn Ross told the Waikato Times from the team’s resort hotel in Johannesburg.
”I know Keith well and I know he heals well and knows how to look after himself.”
The Chiefs have plenty of cover in midfield with Mark Ranby, in his 50th game for the Chiefs and first in four weeks, playing well as Lowen’s replacement on Friday night.
The Chiefs will not move back to Johannesburg until Saturday (New Zealand time) before playing the last-placed Cats — at home for only the second time this season — on Sunday morning.
The Chiefs share sixth spot on the points table on 17 points with the Waratahs, Hurricanes and Highlanders — all teams they have beaten.
Because ties for semifinal purposes are decided firstly on points difference that means both the Waratahs (plus 59) and Hurricanes (plus six) are technically ranked ahead of the Chiefs (plus four) but all three other sides on 17 have played one more match and had more losses, with the Waratahs and Hurricanes having their byes this weekend.
In addition the third-placed Stormers and fifth-ranked Bulls now leave South Africa for their four-match Australasian tours, where traditionally they have not fared well, while the fourth-placed Sharks host the in-form Crusaders this weekend. — Sapa-NZPA