Chiefs co-captain Liam Messam is to become the first Chief to play 100 Investec Super Rugby matches when the Chiefs play the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday morning.

Following speculation earlier this week with Chiefs management wanting to rest Liam ahead of their home clash with the Highlanders in Hamilton next week, the Chiefs talisman has been announced to take his place in the starting line-up.

Chiefs co-captain Liam Messam will bring up his 100^th Super Rugby match for the Chiefs this weekend against the Southern Kings.

Chiefs coach Dave Rennie has made five changes to team which suffered their first loss of the season, going down 36-34 to the Stormers last weekend, remodelling his forward pack in the process.

Blockbusting prop Toby Smith replaces Pauliasi Manu, lock Michael Fitzgerald gets a start ahead of Brodie Retallick, hooker Hika Elliot comes in for the injured Mahonri Schwalger and Bay of Plenty loose forward Tanerau Latimer switches sides of the scrum allowing Liam to resort back to his preferred No 6, with Sam Cane on the bench.

Ross Filipo, a former All Black and multiple Super Rugby champion with the Crusaders, makes his Chiefs debut at No 8 after playing in that position during the Chiefs pre-season and when he played for London Wasps in England.

'I'm really excited and want to get my first cap under my belt and join the boys.”

Hooker Rhys Marshall comes onto the bench after flying over from New Zealand with Chiefs wider training member Mike Kainga replacing Mahonri (injury) and prop Ben Tameifuna who has a family bereavement.

There is just the one change in the backline with Andrew Horrell replacing Charlie Ngatai at second five-eighths, pairing up with Tim Nanai-Williams who has been in impressive form scoring three tries in the opening three rounds.

The Chiefs will celebrate Liam Messam's milestone the following week at Waikato Stadium after making his Chiefs debut in 2006.

Liam started his representative career with the New Zealand U16 Secondary Schools before playing for the New Zealand U19s and U21s and making the New Zealand sevens team in 2002.

He was named New Zealand Sevens captain in 2004 and named New Zealand Sevens player in the same year. He won his first Commonwealth Games gold medal at Melbourne in 2006 and made it a double by winning another in Delhi in 2010.

Liam made his All Blacks debut in 2008. He has been a part of the Maori All Blacks since 2006 and has captained the side.

He has also won a National Provincial Championship and the Ranfurly Shield with Waikato.

Chiefs squad to play the Southern Kings at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth on Saturday morning, 6.10am (New Zealand time):

1. Toby Smith
2. Hika Elliot
3. Ben Afeaki
4. Craig Clarke ( C )
5. Michael Fitzgerald
6. Liam Messam (100^th Match)
7. Tanerau Latimer
8. Ross Filipo (Chiefs debut)
9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
10. Aaron Cruden
11. Asaeli Tikoirotuma
12. Andrew Horrell
13. Tim Nanai-Williams
14. Lelia Masaga
15. Gareth Anscombe
    
    
16. Rhys Marshall
17. Pauliasi Manu
18. Brodie Retallick
19. Sam Cane
20. Augustine Pulu
21. Charlie Ngatai
22. Patrick Osborne