Tony McGahan has made four changes to his starting XV in response to an abysmal start to 2017.
The Rebels were bitten by the injury bug pre-season and they are starting to receive back-up in the form of injured regulars Sefa Naivalu, Laurie Weeks as well as young prop Fereti Sa'aga and seasoned veteran Culum Retallick.
Naivalu missed the Rebels' first two starts with a leg infection, though he may not have had much of an impact in their two losses given the backs have had little to no clean ball.
The inclusions of Sa'aga and Retallick are a move by McGahan to address that, with the prop coming in as a straight swap for Cruze Ah-Nau and the veteran second rower replacing Lopeti Timani, who has suffered a knee injury.
Harlequins recruit Murray Douglas is also set to debut, as he has been named on the bench.
Marika Koroibete gets the nod for his second start in Rebels colours, with McGahan listing Sean McMahon as four weeks away and Toby Smith six to seven weeks from playing.
The Rebels host the Chiefs on Friday night, kicking off at 7:45pm AEDT, LIVE on FOX SPORTS and via radio on RUGBY.com.au.
TEAM
IN: Fereti Sa'aga, Murray Douglas, Sefa Naivalu
OUT: Lopeti Timani (knee), Tom Moloney, Mitch Inman
Melbourne Rebels team to take on the Chiefs
1. Fereti Sa’aga
2. James Hanson
3. Laurie Weeks
4. Culum Retallick
5. Steve Cummins
6. Jordy Reid
7. Colby Fainga’a
8. Amanaki Mafi
9. Nic Stirzaker (Captain)
10. Jackson Garden-Bachop
11. Marika Koroibete
12. Reece Hodge
13. Tom English
14. Sefa Naivalu
15. Jack Debreczeni
Reserves
16. Pat Leafa
17. Cruze Ah-Nau
18. Tyrel Lomax
19. Murray Douglas
20. Jake Schatz
21. Ben Meehan
22. Sione Tuipulotu
23. Ben Volavola
Chiefs team to face the Rebels
1. Kane Hames
2. Sabastian Siataga
3. Nepo Laulala
4. Dominic Bird
5. Brodie Retallick
6. Tom Sanders
7. Sam Cane
8. Liam Messam
9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
10. Damian McKenzie
11. Solomin Alaimalo
12. Stephen Donald
13. Anton Lienert-Brown
14. Toni Pulu
15. Shaun Stevenson
Reserves
16. Hika Elliot
17. Siegfried Fisi'ihoi
18. Atu Moli
19. Mitchell Brown
20. Mitchell Karpik
21. Finlay Christie
22. Aaron Cruden
23. Johnny Faauli.
