Nanai-Seturo Returns to Boost Chiefs’ Final Push for Top Spot

h 00149839

Nanai-Seturo hasn't played since the first round when he suffered a hamstring injury, and coach Clayton McMillan is looking forward to the point of difference he will bring to the competition leaders.

"He's got a slightly different profile to everybody else. He's fast, got good fees and he's got a booming left boot. Those are things that will add to our game."

The Chiefs can secure the prime No1 place on the ladder by beating the Highlanders.

Despite their 7-85 win over Moana Pasifika in their last outing, McMillan said some elements of the Chiefs' play concerned him, including giving up the ball.

They were lucky because they were 20-30 points in front, which did not hurt them. However, in other games, those losses could have been crucial.

"There's a saying that 'not everything counts, but everything matters.'

"That was one of those. In a final it's going to count. So you can't brush over those things."

While the Highlanders were out of contention, they had finished strong and, besides having four or five good forwards over the ball, had one of the best jacklers in the competition in second five-eighths Timoci Tavatavanawai.

"He's had an outstanding season. If they get access to the ball, and if we're sloppy around our carry and clean, and we have drawn a line in the sand the last couple of weeks about how we want to operate in that space, the challenge to us is to keep getting there.

"If you do that it becomes hard for anybody to get over the ball."

McMillan said the Highlanders have forced teams in their last three games to make a lot of tackles, and the dry conditions under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium would only aid the home team.

"We've got to be ready for everything and we know Jamie will have them ready to do that."