The Chiefs are set to ease All Blacks first five Aaron Cruden back into the fray of Super Rugby when they take on the Hurricanes in Wellington on tonight.

The diminutive 82kg playmaker is starting on the bench for the two-time defending champions after being sidelined with a broken thumb for six weeks.

Chiefs first five Aaron Cruden against the Stormers at Waikato Stadium this year. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

This means Gareth Anscombe retains the No 10 jersey, having slotted in during Cruden's, but the All Blacks is sure to get some much game time ahead of the upcoming test series with England next month.

Fresh from a week's bye, where they retained their top ranking in the New Zealand conference, the Chiefs are able once again able to name a powerful yet settled squad similar to their match with the Blues.

Along with Cruden the Chiefs have made just two further changes to the starting lineup with Asaeli Tikoirotuma and Charlie Ngatai returning from injury to take their place on the left wing and at centre.

Tim Nanai-Williams who has recommitted to the Chiefs for the 2015 season returns to fullback.

Loose forward Kane Thompson comes into the reserves and is joined by Tom Marshall, the only other change to the Chiefs bench.

The Chiefs, top in the New Zealand conference and third overall, face a Hurricanes side currently in eighth place on the overall ladder yet still in contention to make the playoffs.

But given their dominant 32-20 victory against the Blues in New Plymouth a fortnight ago, the defending champions will be confident they are tracking in the right direction with their season after a lean patch in the middle, blighted by injuries.

And as part of the BNZ Future Stars charity round, an initiative to raise money for Plunket, the Chiefs will be wearing jersey's featuring names of children who won the chance to have their names on the front of the playing jerseys through an online auction on TradeMe or a free online ballot.

Chiefs players wearing their BNZ Future Stars playing shirts, from left Tim Nanai-Williams and Arana Henderson, Liam Messam with Charlie Boyden and dad Barry Boyden, Ben Tameifuna with Natalia Lynch and Gareth Anscombe with Ty Ward for the charity Plunket. Photo: Stephen Barker/www.photosport.co.nz

All New Zealand teams will wear the one-off jerseys during this weekend's round. Children from around New Zealand won the chance to have their name placed the jerseys through the initiative.

Amongst the fans paying close attention to the Chiefs players are 14-year-old David McNeil from Tauranga, Te Rau Kilkelly, 4, from Rotorua and Isla Dale's, 1, family from Omokoroa, all successful in the free online ballot.

David will see his name across the front of Nathan Harris's No. 2 jersey, Te Rau on Bundee Aki's in No. 12 and Isla with Tanerau Latimer No. 6.

After the match all of the jerseys will be sent to the winners to keep as a unique souvenir.

Chiefs side to face the Hurricanes in Wellington tonight (7.35pm):

1. Pauliasi Manu
2. Nathan Harris
3. Ben Tameifuna
4. Michael Fitzgerald
5. Brodie Retallick
6. Tanerau Latimer
7. Sam Cane
8. Liam Messam ©
9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
10. Gareth Anscombe
11. Asaeli Tikoirotuma
12. Bundee Aki
13. Charlie Ngatai
14. Dwayne Sweeney
15. Tim Nanai-Williams
16. Mahonri Schwalger
17. Jamie Mackintosh
18. Josh Hohneck
19. Kane Thompson
20. Liam Squire
21. Brad Weber
22. Aaron Cruden
23. Tom Marshall