A star on the All Blacks' 2004 European tour, Kelleher is now the veteran of two Rugby World Cup campaigns.

He is big and strong and always a threat to any defensive line.

Kelleher and Justin Marshall have battled for the All Blacks No 9 jersey for the past five years and less than 10 of his Test caps have been 80-minute affairs.

Kelleher played his way back into the All Blacks 2003 squad after missing 2002 with injury. Since then he has developed a reputation as a super-sub and scored two Test match tries at the 1999 Rugby World Cup, when he came on as a substitute against Tonga and England.

Originally with Otago and the Highlanders, Kelleher shifted north to join the Chiefs and Waikato NPC teams in 2004.

A fierce competitor, the experienced half-back is set to again play a pivotal role in the Chiefs backline this season.

He was New Zealand's Super 12 Player of the Year in 1999.