Richie McCaw's men can square their previous loss against the Bulls but they must fire on all cylinders, writes Wynne Gray.
The oh-so-sudden repeat duel between the Crusaders and Bulls has generated all sorts of rugby boffinry.
It has become a cottage industry as we learn penetrating details from the shorts size of the Bulls to the length of sprigs used by the Crusaders' backline.
Then there are all the details
from the teams' semifinal clashes in the past few years to the impact of referee Stu Dickinson or the Bulls' shift from Loftus to Orlando Stadium in Soweto.
Next on the rung is the Crusaders' record in South Africa where they have won 17 and lost 17 games since Super rugby started, including four defeats in their last six games.
Can't quite crack it in the republic? Certainly not as comfortable as they might be in Christchurch.
Top of the question list, though, might be two other factors. Will the Bulls rediscover their venom after resting their top side last week and can the Crusaders shake off their repeat flight to South Africa?
All that is in the melting pot at the Orlando Stadium as the titleholders defend their Super 14 crown against the visiting seven-time champions.
And in New Zealand, the All Black selectors will scour the match fretfully for injuries and ideas about dismantling the best from the republic.
That inspection will roll over into the subsequent semifinal between the Stormers and Waratahs in Cape Town.
But New Zealand's initial gaze will be to check if the Bulls' semifinal superiority of '07 and '09 against the Crusaders continues.
A fortnight ago, the Crusaders' mobility and enterprise stunned the Bulls until the last contentious move of the match earned the hosts a reprieve.
Captain Richie McCaw was seething. Rarely, if ever, has he berated match officials as he did that day. He and his mates have a chance to get square tomorrow with more of the same rugby. They must be careful, though - they cannot flick the ball carelessly around like the Blues and their pack must nullify their rivals.
This is a time for the Franks brothers to underline statements about their set-piece clout to the All Blacks selectors, time for the lineout to click and McCaw, Kieran Read and George Whitelock to impose pace and skills.
And halfback Andy Ellis must challenge the fringes to ease the heat on Daniel Carter. The champion five-eighths must get strong possession to unlock the defences from phase play and bring the speed of Zac Guildford and Sean Maitland to bear.
This match looms as a pointer for the solitary test in South Africa on August 21 when the All Blacks play at Ellis Park.
BULLS V CRUSADERS
Soweto, 3.05am Sunday
BULLS
Zane Kirchner
J. v. d. Westhuyzen
Jaco Pretorius
Wynand Olivier
Francois Hougaard
Morne Steyn
Fourie du Preez
Pierre Spies
Dewald Potgieter
Deon Stegmann
Victor Matfield (c)
Danie Rossouw
Werner Kruger
Gary Botha
G. Steenkamp
CRUSADERS
Colin Slade
Sean Maitland
Robert Fruean
Daniel Bowden
Zac Guildford
Dan Carter
Andy Ellis
Kieran Read
Richie McCaw (c)
George Whitelock
Sam Whitelock
Brad Thorn
Owen Franks
Ti'i Paulo
Ben Franks
RESERVES
Bulls: Bandise Maku, Bees Roux, Flip van der Merwe, Derick Kuun, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Stephan Dippenaar, Pedrie Wannenburg.
Crusaders: Daniel Perrin, Wyatt Crockett, Chris Jack, Thomas Waldrom, Kahn Fotuali'i, Tim Bateman, Jared Payne.
