The Crusaders might be missing a number of their top players but so will the Hurricanes after Victor Vito and Cory Jane were ruled out of their match against the red-and-blacks in Christchurch on Saturday.
Dan Carter (hamstring), Kieran Read (concussion) and Israel Dagg (ankle) will be absent for the Crusaders after picking up injuries in the All Blacks' recent series with Ireland and Vito (knee) and Jane (ankle) still aren't right to play for the Hurricanes. Those absences, together with halfback TJ Perenara's enforced layoff due to a broken leg, have shorn the Wellington-based side of some of their biggest weapons.
Brad Shields will play off the back of the scrum and Jack Lam (hamstring) has been bracketed with Karl Lowe in the No 7 jersey.
The Crusaders are fourth on the table with 51 points and the Hurricanes are sixth with 45 points.
Hurricanes team to play the Crusaders at AMI Stadium, Christchurch, on Saturday (7.35pm): Andre Taylor, Alapati Leiua, Conrad Smith (c), Tim Bateman, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, Chris Eaton, Brad Shields, Jack Lam/Karl Lowe, Faifili Levave, Jason Eaton, Jeremy Thrush, Ben May, Dane Coles, Reg Goodes. Reserves: Motu Matu'u, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, James Broadhurst, Karl Lowe/Mark Reddish, Frae Wilson, Tusi Pisi, Jayden Hayward.
