The Highlanders gather the ball from the kickoff and Aaron Smith returns the kick up field. The Chiefs counter attack but are tackled out of play near the halfway line.

The teams are on the park, kickoff is seconds away.

Hello and welcome to Ultimate Rugby's coverage of the Highlanders vs the Chiefs. The Highlanders are aiming to make the semi-finals for the first time in over a decade and will have a packed home ground spurring them on. They face a Chiefs outfit that have won the competition twice in the last three years, but in a previous encounter three ago, it was the Highlanders who won by a resounding 27 points. The Highlanders welcome the return of No.8 Nasi Manu, All Black centre Malakai Fekitoa and lock Mark Reddish. The Chiefs have hooker Hika Elliot and flank Sam Cane return to the the starting lineup, but are missing Augustine Pulu due to a fractured arm. Ultimate Rugby will keep you up to date throughout the match.

Up the landers