Sivivatu return for the Chiefs

All Blacks winger Sitiveni Sivivatu returns to the Chiefs team for their Investec Super rugby match against the Highlanders in Hamilton on Saturday night after an injury-enforced week on the sidelines.

Sivivatu, who missed last week's loss to the Bulls in Pretoria because of a hamstring strain, regains his left wing spot with Save Tokula dropping out of the 22, while the other change to the starting lineup sees Hika Elliot take over the hooking duties from Aled de Malmanche, who has been named on the bench.

Openside flanker Tanerau Latimer has won a spot on the bench after missing the Chiefs' two matches in South African because of a head knock suffered against the Crusaders in Mt Maunganui last month. He replaces Sam Cane for a match Chiefs coach Ian Foster has labelled "must win".

The Chiefs are ninth with 23 points, 12 behind the fifth-placed Highlanders.

The match also marks captain Mils Muliaina's 50th cap for the Chiefs.

Chiefs: Mils Muliaina, Lelia Masaga, Richard Kahui, Dwayne Sweeney, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Stephen Donald, Brendon Leonard, Fritz Lee, Scott Waldrom, Liam Messam, Romana Graham, Craig Clarke, Ben Afeaki, Hika Elliot, Toby Smith. Reserves: Aled de Malmanche, Sona Taumalolo, Isaac Ross, Tanerau Latimer, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Tim Nanai-Williams, Jackson Willison.

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Sharks and Springboks boosted by John Smit's return

Springboks captain John Smit has officially resumed training with the Sharks, and has fully recovered from surgery to his neck, which has seen him out of the game for the last four months.

However he may find fighting his way back into the Durban based side difficult though, with Bismarck du Plessis establishing himself as South Africa's best hooker with a series of excellent performances with the Sharks last year in the Currie Cup before holding the position in the Springboks failed Grand Slam tour.

Furthermore back up Sharks rake Craig Burden impressed and showed why he is considered an up-and-coming front rower from the Republic's scrum factory.

But the return of Smit will be pleasing news to coach Peter de Villiers, for while Smit may have his critics in regard to his potency on the field, there is no doubting that he is one of the great captains in world rugby history.

Returning to training with Smit is JP Pietersen, who has recovered from a hamstring injury that ruled him out of action last year.

The only front line player still in the Sharks casualty ward is Jean Deysel, with the physical loose forward still recovering from a knee injury suffered in last year's Currie Cup.

The Sharks begin their season with warm up matches in the Neo-Africa Tri-Series later this month. The Sharks, Lions and Stormers play each other at Newlands, with the Durban based outfit playing the Lions on February 1 and the Stormers on February 5.

In other news the South African Rugby Union (SARU) is due to announce a date for the antidoping tribunal for Springbok hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle and wing Bjorn Basson.

Both players tested positive for the stimulant methylhexaneamine, and have been banned from participating with the Bulls during their preseason training. Bulls team manager Wynie Strydom said they would contact SARU to hopefully speed up the process.

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