Starting props Alex Hodgman and Sione Mafileo are in good form and with Josh Goodhue at lock alongside Tuipuluto and fellow Northlander Tom Robinson at blindside flanker, the Blues have a very tall lineout.
Akira Ioane, starting at No8, will be playing his 50th game for the Blues.
Dalton Papalii, who made his All Blacks debut last year, will start at openside flanker in the injury-forced absence of co-captain Blake Gibson, with Harry Plummer named as back-up No10. Stephen Perofeta may need surgery on his damaged pectoral muscle, suffered last weekend against the Hurricanes.
The starting line-up will have the confidence of a good pre-season behind them, plus, presumably a good idea of exactly what game-plan MacDonald and fellow coaches Tom Coventry and Tana Umaga have settled on.
Playing the defending champions will be a big test for them, but the same is true also for Scott Robertson's men, because there remains a big element of the unknown in a big year for rugby in this country and beyond. Can MacDonald work his magic from the start against his old side who are led by the best coach in the competition? It could be a close one.
Blues team to play the Crusaders at Eden Park on Saturday, kick-off 7.35pm is: Michael Collins, Melani Nanai, Ma'a Nonu, TJ Faiane, Rieko Ioane, Otere Black, Jonathan Ruru, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii, Tom Robinson, Josh Goodhue, Patrick Tuipulotu ©, Sione Mafileo, James Parsons, Alex Hodgman.
Reserves: Matt Moulds, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Matt Matich, Augustine Pulu, Harry Plummer, Sonny Bill Williams.
