KEY POINTS:
No 8 Nasi Manu and hooker Ti'i Paulo will make the first starts of their Super 14 rugby careers after the unbeaten Crusaders made six changes to their team to face the Cheetahs in Christchurch on Saturday.
Five of the changes are in the forwards and none are injury-related, with all six demoted players going to the reserve bench.
"We've had a tight turnaround this week, so it's an appropriate time to freshen the side up a little bit," Crusaders coach Robbie Deans said.
The other new starters are winger Sean Maitland, flanker Reuben Thorne, lock Michael Paterson and prop Wyatt Crockett from the starting side who beat the Western Force 29-24 in Perth on Sunday.
Maitland replaces Caleb Ralph on the left wing in the only backline change.
Twin switches in the loose forwards see Manu and Thorne in for Mose Tuiali'i and Kieran Read respectively.
Ali Williams is replaced by Paterson while in the front row Paulo comes in for Corey Flynn and Wyatt Crockett starts at prop instead of Greg Somerville, with Ben Franks shifting from the loosehead to tighthead side.
Crusaders
Leon MacDonald, Scott Hamilton, Casey Laulala, Stephen Brett, Sean Maitland, Daniel Carter, Andrew Ellis, Nasi Manu, Richard McCaw (captain), Reuben Thorne, Michael Paterson, Brad Thorn, Ben Franks, Ti'i Paulo, Wyatt Crockett.
Reserves: Corey Flynn, Campbell Johnstone, Ali Williams, Mose Tuiali'i. Kahn Fotuali'i, Caleb Ralph, Kieran Read
- NZPA
