Chiefs assistant coach, Tom Coventry admits a lot of the ingredients that produced two Super Rugby titles for the franchise are missing this year.
The Chiefs have lost their last three matches.
They sit last in the New Zealand conference and ninth overall and need a win against the Hurricanes in Hamilton tonight to stay in the play off hunt.
Coventry said there are a lot of little things that perhaps have not helped this year, including some experienced players moving on.
He said a lot of effort went into winning two straight championships and he is not sure that the players have consistently shown that this year.
The Chiefs have made seven changes to their starting line up to face the Hurricanes in a Super Rugby do-or-die match tonight with most of the changes coming in the back-line.
Dropped are backs Gareth Anscombe, Dwayne Sweeney, Robbie Fruean, Bundee Aki, Augustine Pulu and loosehead prop Pauliasi Manu.
Making their return to the starting line-up are Tom Marshall, Asaeli Tikoirotuma, James Lowe, Tim Nanai-Williams, Charlie Ngatai and halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow.
The Chiefs will take on the Hurricanes at 7.35 tonight.
