The Bay of Plenty Steamers have all their bases covered when it comes to gaining vital Super Rugby knowledge with a handful of players named in the 2015 Chiefs Development Squad.

Bay of Plenty Steamers halfback Jono Kitto looks to clear in their 2014 ITM Cup clash with Northland at ASB Baypark. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

The squad, consisting of an exciting mix of ITM Cup players from the Chiefs region, NZ U20s trialists and other young promising players, will make a step up in intensity with five matches against other New Zealand Super Rugby franchise and the NZ U20s this season.

These squad gives Super Rugby head coaches a chance look at whether players could be earmarked as pulling on the Chiefs jersey in the future, while should injury strike see them elevated to the franchise squad.

Members from the Chiefs squad are also expected to be involved in the matches.

Included this year are seven Bay players; Solomona Sakalia, Joe Royal, Tim Bond, Jono Kitto, Te Aihe Toma, Daniel Hollinshead and Brynn Uriarau.

Sakalia, a former New Zealand Schools and U-20s loosehead prop, has been signed by the Chiefs previously while Royal has produced some strong performances both in Bay colours and with the Maori All Blacks the last two seasons.

The Te Puke duo of lock Tim Bond and halfback Jono Kitto will be hoping to push their claims further with Bond managing some minutes in the Chiefs 41-20 preseason win over the Blues overnight.

Te Aihe Toma and Waikato's Harrison Levien make up the other two halfback spots while first five Dan Hollinshead joins Waikato's Bryn Gatland and Michael Stanley, Counties Manukau, in jostling to steer the team around the park.

Uriarau has been included in the outside backs.

Steamers and Whakarewarewa prop Ziggy Fisihoi and Greerton and 2014 NZ U20 lock Troy Callandar were not considered due to injury.

The Chiefs Rugby Club has announced its 2015 Chiefs Development Squad which will assemble for the first time on Sunday 1 February at Chiefs Headquarters in Hamilton.

Chiefs Development head coach Dave Dillon is joined by ITM Cup Premier Champions Taranaki's Assistant Coach Leo Crowley and former Chiefs captain Deon Muir.

Past Chiefs player, Roger Randle will also provide some part time resource skills coaching.says

Dillion, also the Chiefs Player Identification & Development Manager, says the development programme carried out in conjunction with the provincial union programmes has become an integral part of player development in the Chiefs region.

'Taranaki's Seta Tamanivalu who went on to become the ITM Cup Player of the Year last year came through our programme and a number of other Chiefs Development players have progressed to the Chiefs level this season which is great reward for those guys.”

In addition to Tamanivalu, those players include former Chiefs Development players Johan Bardoul (Bay of Plenty), Damian McKenzie (Waikato), Maama Vaipulu and Toni Pulu (Counties Manukau) who have joined the Chiefs 2015 Investec Super Rugby squad.

The Chiefs Development side will play the curtain raiser match with the Blues Development team for the two Investec Super Rugby fixtures between the Chiefs and the Blues.

The first of their two matches is at North Harbour on February 14 and the second at Waikato Stadium on April 4.

The Chiefs Development side will also play two matches with the Hurricanes Development team and provide a warm up match for the New Zealand U20s side in late May prior to the New Zealand U20s departure to the Junior World Cup competition in June.

2015 Chiefs Development Squad:

Props: Solomona Sakalia (BOP), Ryan Cocker (Taranaki), Atunaisa Moli (Waikato), Jarrod Firth (Counties Manukau), Tau Koloamatangi (Waikato).

Hookers: Joe Royal (BOP), Epalahame Faiva and Steven Misa (Waikato).

Locks: Tim Bond (BOP), Richard Hoeata (Taranaki), Brian Alainu'uese and Jacob Skeen (Waikato).

Loose forwards: James Tucker (Waikato), Mitchell Jacobson (Waikato), Mitchell Crosswell, (Taranaki) Zane Kapeli (Waikato), Lachlan Boshier (Taranaki).

Halfbacks: Harrison Levien (Waikato), Jono Kitto and Te Aihe Toma (BOP).

First Fives: Daniel Hollinshead (BOP), Michael Stanley (Counties Manukau), Bryn Gatland (Waikato).

Midfield: Jason Thomasen (Waikato), Sasa Tofilau (Waikato), Sean Wainui (Taranaki), Joseph Ikenasio (Counties Manukau), Cardiff Vaega (Counties Manukau).

Outside backs: Cody Rei (Taranaki), Ngataua Hukatai (Counties Manukau), Jordan Trainor (Waikato), Brynn Uriarau (BOP), Shaun Stevenson (Waikato)

Chiefs Development Programme 2015: Saturday February 14

Blues v Chiefs, North Harbour Stadium

(Curtain raiser to Blues v Chiefs Investec Super Rugby Match)

Wednesday March 18

Chiefs v Hurricanes, Taupo

Saturday April 4

Chiefs v Blues, Waikato Stadium

(Curtain raiser to Chiefs v Blues Investec Super Rugby Match)

Thursday April 23 (TBC)

Hurricanes v Chiefs, Venue TBC

Monday May 25

Chiefs v NZU20's, Tauranga

Kick off times to be confirmed.