Fiji-born All Blacks outside back Emoni Narawa has been named to start at fullback for the Chiefs when they take on the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua in round 4 of the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific this weekend.
It will be a homecoming game for the former Queen Victoria School student after last playing in Fiji in 2022 where he started on the wing for the Chiefs in their close 34-35 win over the Drua in Lautoka.
Meanwhile, star utility back Damien McKenzie has been omitted from the matchday 23 squad despite being cleared of any serious injury after limping off in the 71st minute of their 49-34 win over the Brumbies last weekend.
Ollie Norris, Samisoni Taukei'aho and George Dyer will start in the front row with Manaaki Selby Rickit and Tupou Vaa'i, who will captain the side, will be in the second row.
Samipeni Finau, Kaylum Boshier and Jimmy Tupou will start in the back row, Cortez Ratima will be at halfback, Josh Jacomb will start at flyhalf, Quinn Tupaea and Anton Lienert-Brown will partner up in the centres, while Leroy Carter and Daniel Rona will start on the wings with Emoni Narawa at fullback.
The bench includes Bradley Slater, Jared Proffit, Reuben O'Neill, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Simon Parker, Malachi Wrampling, Xavier Roe, and Shaun Stevenson.
The Chiefs will take on the Drua at 3.35pm this Saturday at Churchill Park in Lautoka.
In other matches this week, the Blues will take on the Brumbies at 6.35pm Friday, Moana Pasifika will host the Hurricanes at 6.05pm Saturday, the Waratahs will take on the Force at 8.35pm Saturday and the Crusaders will take on the Reds at 2.35pm Sunday.
