How the Chiefs can dethrone the Crusaders as the alpha team of Super Rugby Aotearoa

In terms of squad balance whereby experience blends with youth across the board, there are few teams whose rosters can topple that of the Chiefs.

Aside from the lock department, where they are missing veteran Brodie Retallick who remains on his two-season sabbatical, they have at least one All Black represented in each positional group.

Add to that the development of some of the most promising youngsters in the league, including Quinn Tupaea, Etene Nanai-Seturo and Naitoa Ah Kuoi, and Warren Gatland's side register as one of the firm favourites to challenge for the Super Rugby Aotearoa title.

That shouldn't come as surprise to anyone given how well the Chiefs were tracking before the Super Rugby season was nullified back in March.

With first-five Aaron Cruden winding back the clock to team up with livewire halfback Brad Weber, the Hamilton side's backline worked a treat.

Anton Lienert-Brown dazzled in the midfield, while Damian McKenzie was the headline act in an outside back trio that also featured the exciting Solomon Alaimalo and Shaun Stevenson.

In the pack, there was arguably no better performer in the loose forwards throughout the entire competition than Lachlan Boshier, who really established himself as a genuine contender to fill the gap left by Matt Todd in the national set-up.

Weigh in the injury-plagued yet committed and talented workhorse Luke Jacobson, dominant ball-carrying No. 8 Pita Gus Sowakula and, of course, All Blacks captain Sam Cane, and the Chiefs' loose forward depth is enviable.

Elsewhere, Samisoni Taukei'aho has blossomed into a regular starting candidate at hooker, building on the potential shown that apparently brought him to the attention of All Blacks selectors a few years ago.

On either side of the scrum, Taukei'aho is complemented by Aidan Ross, who shone as one of the in-form props of Super Rugby earlier this year, and Nepo Laulala, who is indisputably the best tighthead in New Zealand.

With such a complete starting lineup - aside from the Retallick-less second row - the Chiefs posted some significant victories over the Blues, Crusaders, Sunwolves and Waratahs throughout January, February and March.

Those wins left them sitting in fifth place on the overall standings and they loomed as serious contenders to challenge for their third title at that early stage of the season.