Chiefs midfielders Anton Lienert-Brown has praised the form of Blues second-five Ma’a Nonu and says he looks forward to facing an idol.
The Chiefs host the Blues in Hamilton on Saturday, with the Blues going into the fixture having won their last four matches.
Lienert-Brown, 23, expects a tough physical battle against his opposite, Nonu.
"I think he [Nonu] has built into this season really well until now, where he is playing some great rugby," Lienert-Brown told media in Hamilton today.
"I used to watch him when I was younger and try get some tips off him. He's still doing those things really well.
"I admire the way he plays, yeah it's really exciting to come up against those guys [Sonny Bill Williams and Nonu] this week."
The Chiefs are coming off a bye, having won two on the trot prior to their break last week.
"I think Ma'a - he's a really dangerous ball carrier, powerful ball carrier. But what I really like about him he’s got great distribution and I think he really worked hard on that over the years until now.
"He's almost like a 10 in a way, who can carry the ball really hard."
The Chiefs sit at the bottom of the New Zealand Super Rugby conference, with the Blues in third position in the NZ standings.
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