KEY POINTS:
If Blues coach David Nucifora is right and the margin between success and failure is just a couple of percentage points, then the numbers may just have tipped in his team's favour for tonight's must-win trip to Crusaders country.
The withdrawal of Casey Laulala, one of the form
centres of the competition and a standout in last week's defeat by the Chiefs in Hamilton when he suffered the head knock that forced his scratching tonight, might just be the crucial couple of per cent Nucifora's team needs.
Laulala has been replaced by Caleb Ralph, who had been dropped from the Crusaders 22 after struggling against the Chiefs. Ralph doesn't possess the physical threat posed by Laulala. He also lacks the pace and trickery of opposite Anthony Tuitavake, whose comparatively diminutive stature would have been more of an issue against Laulala.
Tuitavake's shift in from the wing in place of Isaia Toeava represents a significant shift in selectorial policy for Nucifora, who has typically made changes dictated by injury.
Nucifora conceded his side had been searching for a spark to reignite their season after back-to-back losses. "We just aren't playing at our best at moment," he said. "We've tinkered with a few selections and we are not far off it. You have only got to look at the other results in this competition - we got criticised and called lucky when we beat the Bulls and the Stormers, and the Stormers are now sitting third on the table.
"There are no poor teams, you just have a very slim margin for error. If you are only a few per cent off your best you are going to get beaten. That is where we have been. We have got to turn it around.
"We put a lot of work into the preparation for this game and we'll be out there giving it our best shot."
David Smith is the other beneficiary of the axe dropping on Toeava, with the explosive wing getting his first start of the season. Smith can be erratic but is also a deadly finisher, an area where the Blues have struggled in recent matches.
The Crusaders have been boosted by the return of Leon MacDonald, who should provide a steadying influence at the back if Blues first five-eighths Nick Evans looks to try to replicate the territory game employed so effectively by the Chiefs' Stephen Donald last week.
Nucifora said the Chiefs' victory was a double-edged sword for his team.
"You can look at it a couple of ways; it wasn't great for us for [the Chiefs] to get the points but they exposed some things in the Crusaders as well. But obviously the Crusaders will have their eye back on the ball this week."
Nucifora also said he wasn't feeling any pressure despite the Blues being on the brink of another disappointing campaign and continuing suggestions he will quit the franchise at the end of the season.
He hoped the prospect of facing the old enemy would provide the spark his team has been lacking.
"The boys will have no trouble getting up for the game, there is no doubt about that. It is a big challenge for us and if anything is going get us up it will be this."
