As unlikely as it seemed at season's start, could it be Chiefs halfback Brad Weber has emerged as the answer to Steve Hansen's prayers?

Given the speedy No 9's breakout campaign in Super Rugby, his coach Dave Rennie believes he may just have uncorked a No 9 who could solve one of Hansen's major head-scratchers: what on earth would he do if Aaron Smith was laid low by injury?

Where Rennie sits at least, New Zealand rugby now has a ready-made alternative to the man rated the most indispensible All Black.

"He's very similar to Aaron Smith and is probably the only other halfback in the country with that speed of pass and speed to the breakdown and so on," Rennie said. "He's probably even a little bit quicker than Smith, so if someone like [Smith] fell over he would be a hell of a replacement."

Weber will make his third consecutive start and eighth of this campaign for the Chiefs in Melbourne on Saturday night against the Rebels, now clearly Rennie's go-to choice in the No 9 position.

Given he would have been the squad's third-ranked halfback – behind All Blacks Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Augustine Pulu – that's been some move by the 24-year-old who shifted to Waikato from Otago in 2013 with this exact prospect in mind.

Kerr-Barlow's situation helped – he's due back in July after a horrific knee injury late last season – and a couple of indifferent efforts from Pulu played his way as well. But for Rennie it was more a matter of what the fleet-footed 24-year-old brought to the table, than what Pulu didn't.

"When he committed to stay here obviously he had a current All Black (Kerr-Barlow) ahead of him and then Augie made the end-of-year tour," Rennie said. "But we told him there were parts of his game that we really liked and if he fronts there would be opportunities.

"Certainly the speed of his pass is great, he's defending really well and he's just so electric. He's quick to the rucks and allows us to play that type of game and his ability to challenge around the fringes is one of the best in the country."

Weber, not surprisingly, is just rapt to be getting the chance to start regularly in one of New Zealand's – and the competition's – best teams.

"I've always been after an opportunity to show I can play," he said before heading to Melbourne. "I've always thought I've had the ability, it's just being given the chance to do it."

Like most halfbacks, Weber backs his abilities, but admits confidence has been a work in progress this season.

"The first couple of games I was a bit nervous and tentative at times, but now getting a few [games] in a row helps. Now I believe I can play at this level."

What he's unequivocal on are his strengths.

"I'm pretty quick. I back my pace over anybody. My passing is coming on in leaps and bounds and that's something I'm constantly working on."

His kicking game is a chief work-on, as is his defence. "Obviously I'm going to get targeted by the big boys on defence, so I'm always working on my chop tackling on those big, hard runners."

Befitting the position he plays, Weber is a chirpy sort. He has no worries about another new halves combination with Andrew Horrell, expects the Chiefs to improve markedly on last week's two-paced effort against the Force and says the Rebels have earned everyone's respect with their improvements.

As for those Aaron Smith comparisons, let's just say he's happy to hear them.

"For a few years they were going for the big, physical halfbacks, so it was inspiring for me to see a guy of my size and style crack it and play really well. I try to model myself on Aaron as much as I can."