There is also Anton Lienert-Brown, the standout All Black midfielder over the past two Bledisloe Cup tests – a big defeat and a big victory - to factor in on his home ground.
Although, given Lienert-Brown's consistent excellence over his two recent 80-minute tests, he is less of a priority in terms of needing time on the field.
"It's 100 per cent," Crotty said of his thumb before what was his final match for Canterbury. "It's good and I reckon it's been good for a couple of weeks now. I've been overly precautious and followed everyone's instructions. It's completely fine and it was probably overkill anyway."
Crotty, 30, has played 44 tests since 2013 and has been included in Hansen's 31-player squad for his experience, temperament and distribution skills. He is also equally at home at second-five or centre, an adaptability that the 24-year-old Lienert-Brown is also capable of.
"He's a leader and he made a difference," Canterbury coach Joe Maddock said after his side's victory. "From the All Blacks point of view they'll be happy he got through 40 minutes."
Crotty's absence from the Rugby Championship means he has been in the unusual position of following an intensive All Blacks' training plan put together by Nic Gill while knowing he hasn't been able to influence his chances of making his first World Cup, a metaphorical no-man's land which for him had a slight positive in the fact he was presumably safe from further injury.
"There's no point in worrying about stuff you can't control," Crotty said. "All I've been concerned about is how hard I work to get right and how hard I've trained to give myself the best chance to take my opportunity if I get it."
He got it on Saturday and with no further injury issues as Canterbury took their first win of the Mitre 10 Cup. His next chance should be against Tonga, and possibly for a similar amount of time. Look for him to be named in the No12 jersey with Goodhue outside him at centre.