He hopes the fresh legs will help inject some southern magic into and his team so they can start turning around their season, regain some lost credibility and finish with a flourish.

"We're not going to hide, or fool anyone because we're disappointed with our own season so far," Mackintosh told NZPA.

"In the weekend we were pretty confident we could pull out a win (against Western Force).

"We showed we were good enough but we lacked the finesse and experience and probably the execution to finish the game off in the last 15 minutes. It was pretty disappointing."

Losing through poor goalkicking and conceding few late points has been the story of the Highlanders' season

"You can't blame it on the rub of the green or poor refereeing calls," Mackintosh said of their largely close losses.

"At the end of the day we're not looking for excuses. We lost the games ourselves. Surely, the rub of the green might be of no help but it's really upto us, not the referee, to win the game."

Mackintosh, one of the standout players in the team consistently, said the best aspect of their season so far has been the team spirit.

Neither the enthusiasm for hardwork nor the desire to win has waned, he said.

"When a team is losing a few on the trot they start picking on little things that you wouldn't when you win and turn them into big issues. Nothing like that is happening down here," Mackintosh said.

"We're still having fun, still training hard. The off-the-field relations are still excellent."

With at least 14 newcomers into the squad and a new coach, the Highlanders were always expected to struggle this season.

Moore is patiently working on a three-year plan to take the team to the top.

The Chiefs go into the match on the back of an inspiring 43-27 win over the Bulls.

They have further bolstered their sharp backline with the inclusion of centre Richard Kahui and winger Sitiveni Sivivatu.

Four of the five changes to the Highlanders team come in the forwards, where lock Tom Donnelly, flanker Tim Boys and frontrowers Chris King and Jason Macdonald have been spelled.

Second five-eighth Aaron Bancroft, who scored a try past Wallaby Matt Giteu despite the Highlanders' 28-36 loss to Western Force last weekend, has been replaced by the Johnny Leota.

The backline change, Moore said, was a straight swap to counter the strong Chiefs midfield in Hamilton.

Alando Soakai comes into openside flanker for Boys to combine with captain Craig Newby and No 8 Steven Setephano in the back row.

Hayden Triggs replaces workhorse Donnelly, who has played in all their previous games, with Clint Newland slotting at prop for King alongside Southland hooker David Hall, who allows Macdonald a break. However, Macdonald and King are on the bench.