Gallagher Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan has made a raft of changes to his twenty-three to face the Crusaders in Christchurch as Chiefs look to bounce back from a dramatic comeback loss against Highlanders in their season opener.

Lock Josh Lord and loose forward Kaylum Boshier are in-line to make their Sky Super Rugby debut in the second game of this year's Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa competition at Orangetheory Stadium on Saturday, March 13 at 7.05pm.

McMillan and the side will also welcome the return of Gallagher Chiefs loosehead prop Aidan Ross, midfielder Quinn Tupaea and utility back Chase Tiatia.

Tighthead prop Angus Ta'avao has been promoted to join the starting front row of Reuben O'Neill and Samisoni Taukei'aho with Bradley Slater, Ross and Sione Mafileo providing front row cover on the bench. Naitoa Ah Kuoi shifts to bench, seeing All Black Tupou Vaa'i pair with Lord.

Loose forward Mitchell Brown earns his first start at six alongside Gallagher Chiefs co-captain Sam Cane on the openside and in-form Luke Jacobson will pack down the scrum at number eight, completing a powerful forward pack.

Only two changes feature to the backline that was a force against the Highlanders in the opening 40 minutes last Friday.

Tupaea will start at second five-eighth with All Black midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown covering on the bench.

Māori All Blacks winger Shaun Stevenson shifts from the bench to start on the right wing. Remaining in their starting spots will be halves combination of Gallagher Chiefs co-captain Brad Weber and Bryn Gatland, along with winger Etene Nanai-Seturo and All Black fullback Damian McKenzie.

Joining the tight five cover will be debutant loose forward Boshier in jersey number twenty. Experienced halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi returns to the twenty-three joining Lienert-Brown and returning Gallagher Chief Chase Tiatia as backline cover.

'This week we have made a number of changes in our match day twenty-three,” says McMillan.

'Josh and Kaylum get their opportunity to pull on the Gallagher Chiefs jersey for the first time. We were impressed with our debutants last week, but we know the Crusaders are a formidable team and we need to have the right balance of youth and experience.

'We didn't want to compromise our preparation this week after Anton picked up a niggle in the Highlanders game. He will be a valuable injection off the bench,” says McMillan.

McMillan finished acknowledging the calibre of the defending champions.

'The Crusaders have set the benchmark for a number of years now,” he says.

'They have a well-balanced team with plenty of experience and a good group of young talent. We know they are hard to beat at home, when you play down there you don't win unless you deliver an 80-minute performance.”

Gallagher Chiefs:

1. Reuben O'Neill (11)
2. Samisoni Taukei'aho (37)
3. Angus Ta'avao (36)
4. Tupou Vaa'i (8)
5. Josh Lord**
6. Mitchell Brown (46)
7. Sam Cane (123) (cc)
8. Luke Jacobson (26)
9. Brad Weber (86) (cc)
10. Bryn Gatland (1)
11. Etene Nanai-Seturo (15)
12. Quinn Tupaea (12)
13. Sean Wainui (39)
14. Shaun Stevenson (53)
15. Damian McKenzie (85)

Reserves:

16. Bradley Slater (16)
17. Aidan Ross (36)
18. Sione Mafileo (1)
19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi (13)
20. Kaylum Boshier**
21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (32)
22. Anton Lienert-Brown (82)
23. Chase Tiatia (1)

() = Gallagher Chiefs caps in brackets

*denotes Gallagher Chiefs debut

**denotes Sky Super Rugby debut

Unavailable for selection: Atu Moli (hips), Laghlan McWhannell (knee), Lachlan Boshier (foot), Pita Gus Sowakula (knee), Kaleb Trask (knee)

Game Day Information:

Fixture: Crusaders vs. Gallagher Chiefs, Saturday 13 March, 7.05pm
Location: Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch

Draw: Click here for full 2021 Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa Gallagher Chiefs draw.

Squad: Click here for the 2021 Gallagher Chiefs Squad