Intriguing weekend in store

An air of intrigue hovers over New Zealand teams in this weekend's third round of Super rugby.
Will the Crusaders overcome the emotional impact of last week's deadly Christchurch earthquake when they take on unbeaten overall leaders the Waratahs?
Can a revamped Blues side offer more at altitude against the Lions than they did at sea level against the Sharks?
Can the country's leading side, the Highlanders, stretch their winning run to three when they play defending champions the Bulls at Pretoria?
And will the Chiefs break their losing run against Australian newcomers, the Melbourne Rebels?
Prudence dictates that the Crusaders, seeking their first win of the tournament, will not be at their best when they meet the Waratahs today at their temporary home at Nelson's Trafalgar Park after a gut-wrenching 10 days.
But their desire to raise the morale of Christchurch citizens while honouring the victims of the Pike River mining disaster - they will be garbed in West Coast colours for the match - cannot be underestimated.
A power-packed backline featuring Super rugby debutant Sonny Bill Williams, in tandem with the blockbusting Robbie Fruean in the midfield, should give the Waratahs - missing first choice No10 Berrick Barnes - plenty to worry about.
Coach Todd Blackadder has made just two changes to his run-on side that lost to the Blues in their season opener, Williams being one. Adam Whitelock is the other, moved from second five-eighth to the left wing to replace the injured Tu Umaga-Marshall.
The Crusaders will need to rely on more than just emotion to beat the Waratahs, Blackadder said this week.
He believed his players want to start playing again and have determination written all over their faces, relieved to get back to training and a sense of normality this week.
Blues coach Pat Lam has wrought six changes to his side after a lacklustre 12-26 loss to the Sharks at Durban.
In his most important call, he gives Luke McAlister supporters a chance to see if the enigmatic one can further his claims as All Blacks back-up to Dan Carter.
He's also given the captain's arm band to No8 Jerome Kaino for the Johannesburg encounter tomorrow morning, after benching All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu in a player-managing move.
The John Mitchell-coached Lions have suffered two tight losses, 16-19 to the Stormers and 20-24 to the Bulls but have shown a new-found fighting spirit.
Ian Foster will also be hoping his early season rotation policy will pay off for the Chiefs, winless and bottom after two rounds.
They host 10th-placed newcomers Melbourne Rebels at Hamilton in their first home game of the season tomorrow, and Foster has returned veteran midfielder Tana Umaga and fellow backs Brendon Leonard and Stephen Donald - playing his 75th Super rugby match - back into his run-on side in five changes.
The third-placed Highlanders, in the unaccustomed role as New Zealand flag bearers, have a daunting task in Pretoria where the also unbeaten Bulls, who beat them 50-35 last year, await them on Sunday morning.
The Bulls will be keen to notch their 21st successive home win.