The Blues have resisted the chance to pick openside flanker Daniel Braid for tomorrow's match against the Force, believing his return to the Super 14 will be smoother if he plays in the curtainraiser.
Braid has been cleared to resume rugby after shoulder surgery meant he missed the
first part of this year's campaign. Instead of rushing him back though, coach David Nucifora wants him to get a taste of rugby again at a lower level.
Nucifora has made just one change to his starting XV for this fifth round match at North Harbour Stadium, promoting local lock Anthony Boric in a swap with Kurtis Haiu.
Boric has been with the Blues for three seasons covering lock and blindside flanker roles without ever cracking regular selection. Captain Troy Flavell and Greg Rawlinson played most games as a locking combination last year while Flavell and Haiu started the opening four rounds this season.
Meanwhile the Force have kept their changes to a minimum as well with Auckland-born prop Troy Takiari replacing the injured Gareth Hardy while James Stannard takes over at halfback from Chris O'Young.
Both sides are coming off losses and longhaul travel to make this match but Nucifora was keen to retain his top lineup against a side he rates as the best drilled and most complete of the Australian franchises.
Their coach John Mitchell was frustrated they let slip a real chance to nobble the Crusaders last week and has challenged them to step up.
"The Blues are ruthless, brave and very hungry, not perhaps as patient as the Crusaders but they can hurt you," he said.
They had a strong scrum, ran neat angles, challenged hard at the breakdowns while Nick Evans had brought a backline leadership with Danny Lee which made them more formidable.
But Mitchell also liked the way his side was improving and how they ruffled the Crusaders for huge parts of last week's close 29-24 loss.
"We are evolving but we are also paid to win," he said bluntly.
The Blues were a benchmark side in the series and they played at a level he wanted the Force to emulate.
