KEY POINTS:
If he was 20 years younger, you can sense Hurricanes rugby coach Colin Cooper would love to test himself against the Crusaders.
Instead it is his in-form team who are gunning to be the first team to knock the red and black Super 14 juggernaut off stride, at Wellington's Westpac Stadium tomorrow night.
Cooper, a former assistant to Robbie Deans at the Crusaders, relishes every match against his former charges and tomorrow is no different.
"They're the best and we want to see where we're at, against the best," he said.
"It's an exciting challenge.
"We've got good confidence. We've got line-breakers in our team that are looking forward to coming up against the best defensive team in the competition."
The most dangerous of those line-breakers is winger Ma'a Nonu returning after suspension spelled him from their last match, the impressive 33-15 defeat of the ACT Brumbies in Canberra.
Hosea Gear makes way for Nonu while prop John Schwalger replaces Jacob Ellison in the only starting changes.
Cooper has stuck by the players who stormed away in the second half against the Brumbies for a fourth consecutive win.
Whether the fifth-placed Hurricanes can continue their streak against the competition leaders - who have won their first six games by an average score of 38-10 - will depend primarily on whether they can reproduce the set piece output from Canberra.
"Once we get control there, (first five-eighth) Jimmy Gopperth's able to play better and our loosies are able to play better. So it's a major part of our game."
The collisions around the fringes should be shuddering, with All Blacks loosies Rodney So'oialo, Chris Masoe and Jerry Collins all starting to find their feet for the Hurricanes.
They must shade the Richie McCaw-led Crusaders trio in which Mose Tuiali'i and Kieran Read have been dynamic all season.
Nonu could also make a difference if given space and a hesitant defensive line.
Cooper was left with no choice but to return the burly ball-carrier to the left wing, with Shannon Paku switching to the right.
"He's playing too well, he's line-breaking really well," Cooper said.
"The unpredictability of Ma'a really helps in breaking the line."
Cooper said no extra guidance was needed this week for Nonu, whose reputation for indiscipline wasn't helped by his dangerous tackle against the Highlanders when he last played three weeks ago.
"We talk about that all the time," Cooper murmured
For the first time this season, the coach could pick from an injury-free squad.
It helped fan a positive outlook which the Hurricanes had developed since their rare triumph in Canberra.
The bye week had fallen at a good time, Cooper believed, about mid-season if warmup games were taken into account.
"With the bye, it can be a good or bad thing depending on where you're at," he said.
"We finished really well with the Brumbies so we've come back pretty excited."
Other key matchups will come at lock, where possible All Blacks teammates this year Ali Williams of the Crusaders and Jason Eaton lock horns, while national tighthead prop candidates Neemia Tialata of the Hurricanes and Greg Somerville are out to anchor the steadier scrum.
Hurricanes halfback Piri Weepu will be desperate to outplay the man who usurped him from last year's World Cup squad, Andy Ellis.
Hurricanes
Cory Jane, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Tamati Ellison, Shannon Paku, Jimmy Gopperth, Piri Weepu, Rodney So'oialo (captain), Chris Masoe, Jerry Collins, Jason Eaton, Craig Clarke, Neemia Tialata Andrew Hore, John Schwalger.
Reserves: Hikawera Elliot, Tim Fairbrother, Jeremy Thrush, Scott Waldrom, Alby Mathewson, Tane Tu'ipulotu, Hosea Gear.
Crusaders
Leon MacDonald, Scott Hamilton, Casey Laulala, Tim Bateman, Kade Poki, Daniel Carter, Andrew Ellis, Mose Tuiali'i, Richard McCaw (captain), Kieran Read, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Corey Flynn, Ben Franks.
Reserves: Ti'i Paulo, Wyatt Crockett, Michael Paterson, Nasi Manu, Kahn Fotuali'i, Caleb Ralph, Sean Maitland.
- NZPA
