By Robert Lowe of NZPA

Auckland, March 3 NZPA - The Chiefs will be on guard against Super 14 rugby opponents who will undermanned but hurting when they host the Queensland Reds in Hamilton tomorrow night.

The Chiefs are riding high, having kicked to touch their tradition of starting slowly by amassing 14 points from a possible 15 during their trip to South Africa and Western Australia.

The Reds, meanwhile, sit in mid-table with just one win, although a significant one over the Crusaders, and are backing up from a 27-18 defeat to the Blues in the Brisbane wet.

But fullback and skipper Mils Muliaina, who will make his first appearance of the season for the Chiefs after being given an extended break, believes the Queenslanders, under new coach Ewen McKenzie, could easily have been on a three-from-three record as well.

They would have been disappointed to lose by just two points to arch-rivals the Waratahs in round one, he said, while the result against the Blues could have gone either way before a late-minute Rudi Wulf try settled the contest.

"They're a lot different side than they've been in the past," Muliaina said.

"They'll come over hurting and wanting to pick up some points."

The Reds will, however, have to overcome a mounting injury toll.

Already without skipper and senior forward James Horwill, they have had fullback Peter Hynes, wingers Rod Davies and Digby Ioane, reserve first five-eighth Tim Walsh and back-up halfback Richard Kingi added to the casualty list.

Muliaina's inclusion is one of two changes to the Chiefs' run-on side, the other being winger Sitiveni Sivivatu's earlier than expected return from a shoulder strain suffered in the 72-65 win over the Lions in round two.

Muliaini, who like Sivivatu scored a brace of tries in the Chiefs' 50-26 victory over the Reds when the sides met in Brisbane last year, prepared for his re-entry into the Super 14 by playing 80 minutes for his club side, Te Rapa.

He knew it would take a couple of games or more to get back up to full fitness.

"I had a little bit of contact last weekend so that's helped a bit," he said.

"I know it's going to be hard at certain times of the game, but I'm just buzzing to get out there."

Despite the Chiefs' great start, Muliaina said his teammates weren't getting carried away ahead of their first fixture of the season at home, where they haven't lost in six matches.

"It's nice to know that the boys have got their feet firmly on the ground," he said, noting that the Chiefs were none from three at the same stage last year before launching their run to the final.

"We certainly know it's a long way to go."

Coach Ian Foster said he was impressed with how the Reds had gone and didn't feel their position in the standings reflected their performances.

"They have a nice abrasive manner to them around the fringes, through their forwards, and they also have the ability to shift the ball wide quickly," he said.

"They are a threat. They're probably struggling to get momentum on the points table, but they certainly look like they're growing on the park."