The Chiefs have assembled a much-changed Super 15 squad for 2012 as they seek to atone for this year's bottom placing in the New Zealand conference.
Re-signed All Black Sonny Bill Williams is the much-publicised addition to the squad but there is also added depth in other areas.
The backline looks particular strong with new recruits Williams, fellow All Black Aaron Cruden, former Highlanders utility Robbie Robinson and young Sevens star Declan O'Donnell.
O'Donnell was one of the final three names added to the 31-man squad after a coaches teleconference on Tuesday, along with Waikato No.8 Alex Bradley and Manawatu centre Aseli Tikoirotuma.
Hooker Hika Elliot and loose forwards Liam Messam, Scott Waldrom and Tanerau Latimer provide all Black quality up front, where the Chiefs will need to improve from their under-performing 2011 campaign.
Samoan pair Kane Thompson and Mahonri Schwalger have also been included, as has highly-ranked young openside flanker Sam Cane.
"It is a good mixture of young exciting talent and key experienced players which should allow us to play a highly appealing style of rugby," new coach Dave Rennie said.
There are a host of losses, all to overseas clubs apart from the retired Tana Umaga, Ben May to the Hurricanes and Highlanders-bound Culum Retallick.
They are hooker Aled de Malmanche (Stade Francais), prop Nathan White (Leinster), locks Isaac Ross, Hayden Triggs, No.8 Steven Setephano, first five-eighth Mike Delany, centre Dwayne Sweeney and fullback Mils Muliaina (Japan), Stephen Donald (Bath), halfback Taniela Moa (Pau, France) and wing Sitiveni Sivivatu (Clermont).
Chiefs squad: Toby Smith, Sona Taumalolo, Ben Afeaki, Shane Cleaver, Ben Tameifuna, Hika Elliot, Mahonri Schwalger, Romana Graham, Craig Clarke, Mike Fitzgerald, Brodie Retallick, Kane Thompson, Liam Messam, Scott Waldrom, Tanerau Latimer, Sam Cane, Fritz Lee, Alex Bradley (forwards) Brendon Leonard, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Aaron Cruden, Andrew Horrell, Jackson Willison, Sonny Bill Williams, Richard Kahui, Aseli Tikoirototuma, Lelia Masaga, Maritino Nemani, Declan O'Donnell, Tim Nanai-Williams, Robbie Robinson (backs).