Tom Marshall is adjusting to his return to fullback with the Chiefs © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

Article: Fairytale Force struck hard by injuries

Article: Ihaia West joins the Blues

Article: Ioane to miss Highlanders' South Africa tour

He may have had just one start in his preferred fullback position since joining the Chiefs, but Tom Marshall has no regrets about making the move to Hamilton.

After three years with the Crusaders - and All Black Israel Dagg blocking his path to the No.15 jersey - Marshall decided to head to the back-to-back Super Rugby title winners in search of more game time at fullback this year.

But Marshall's ability to play in several positions in the back line, Gareth Anscombe's good form and the Chiefs' injury toll have meant the 23-year-old has been used in the midfield until last week's win against the Melbourne Rebels.

"It's a bit of a double-edged sword," said Marshall of his utility status. "You find yourself in the team more often than not because you can cover a number of different positions. But then you find yourself playing in positions that probably aren't as favoured as other positions. You've got to take the positives with the negatives."

The positives mean he has played in every match since round five when he made his return from thumb surgery. The negative has been having to wait until fly-half Aaron Cruden got injured - and Anscombe to move to pivot - to get his chance at fullback. Marshall felt his performance against the Rebels was rusty, not surprising given it has been more than a year since he had played fullback.

"It's probably my game awareness. I haven't played 15 for a while so it's getting used to those running lines and just calling the shots from out the back," he explained.

He is hoping he gets another shot there this Saturday in the crunch derby match against his former Crusaders teammates at Waikato Stadium. The Crusaders will be looking for some revenge after their 18-10 loss at home to the defending champions earlier this year.

Marshall knows the Chiefs will need to put in an 80-minute performance against the rejuvenated red and blacks who won back-to-back games in South Africa.

"I don't think we've put an 80-minute performance on all year," he said. "The struggle of playing 80 minutes in rugby is the momentum swings so often. It's just about keeping that momentum on our side and keeping the ball in our hands really."