Chiefs fan 'Possum' backs Crusaders

An avid Chiefs supporter is switching his Super Rugby allegiance - but just for one night.

Warren "Possum" Allen intends to support the Crusaders in their bid for the Super 15 Rugby trophy tonight in Sydney.

The Crusaders will come face to face with the Waratahs at 9.30pm (NZT) and Possum said his support lies with the New Zealand side.

"When it comes to something like this, you've gotta support your country," he said.

"The Crusaders aren't my favourite team by far, but they are my New Zealand team [for the final].

"Plus," Possum added, "their colours are similar to the Chiefs'."

Possum hopes the Crusaders will win but "it's going to be a tough one".

He said the team would have to start strong "but if they do, they can win by at least 10 points".

Possum is well known in the Chiefs community, famous for throwing lollies into the crowd from a cherry picker as well as revving a chainsaw when the opposition kick and the Chiefs score at Waikato Stadium.

So far, more than 50,000 tickets have been sold for the final and it's expected the crowd will break the previous record of 55,000 at a final.

The Crusaders are chasing their eighth Super Rugby title while the Waratahs are bidding for their first.

Both teams have announced unchanged line-ups going into the game.

The Highlanders said they would also be getting behind the Crusaders. "While we may be fierce rivals on the field we are behind our mainland brothers 100 per cent," spokes-woman Amanda Gould said. "We'd love to see the Super Rugby trophy return to the South Island."

Five reasons to support the Crusaders

1. The Crusaders have faced the Waratahs 20 times in Super Rugby since 1996, and won all but four games.

2. Five of the Crusaders have been in a final against the Waratahs before. They won the title in Christchurch in 2008.

3. They're the only New Zealand team in the final and were the only Kiwi team in the top four.

4. The team has three members of rugby royalty: Dan Carter, Richie McCaw and Kieran Read.

5. Multiple Super Rugby title-winning coach and the coach who accompanied the Crusaders to five titles in nine years, Robbie Deans, is backing the team.