Veteran Muliaina straight back into the Chiefs starting XV (team sheet)

All Black legend Mils Muliaina will play his first game in New Zealand since the 2011 World Cup, when the defending champions the Chiefs take on the Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday.

Returning after a short, but lucrative, stint in European rugby, the attacking fullback/Centre has come home to end his career playing and coaching for the Chiefs.

Chiefs Coach Dave Rennie said, “We have a lot of respect for the Crusaders and are excited by this match up. ”

“The boys have been training since November and we have been planning since August, so we are really looking forward to the competition starting properly.”

Chiefs1. Jamie Mackintosh,2. Rhys Marshall,3. Ben Tameifuna,4. Michael Fitzgerald,5. Brodie Retallick,6. Liam Messam ,7. Tevita Koloamatangi,8. Kane Thompson,9. Augustine Pulu,10. Aaron Cruden (c),11. Asaeli Tikoirotuma,12. Charlie Ngatai,13. Robbie Fruean,14. Tim Nanai-Williams,15. Mils Muliaina,

Replacements :16. Nathan Harris,17. Pauliasi Manu,18. Ben Afeaki,19. Matt Symons/Liam Squire,20. Nick Crosswell,21. Tawera Kerr-Barlow,22. Andrew Horrell/Anton Lienert-Brown,23. James Lowe