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Canberra Brumbies coach Andy Friend says his side will give the Crusaders the respect they deserve when they host their Super 14 rugby rivals in Canberra tonight.
The reigning Super 14 champions come to the nation's capital a depleted side, but Friend expects the Crusaders will stray little from their intimidating style of play.
The Crusaders have the ability to suffocate a game if given half a chance and the Brumbies will need to avoid a repeat of last week's opening round match in which they found themselves trailing the Highlanders 19-0 after just 20 minutes.
The Brumbies hit a late drop goal to claim a 33-31 win, but the Crusaders will be less forgiving, despite having lost three All Blacks in Richie McCaw (head knock), Brad Thorn (heel) and Leon MacDonald (shoulder).
Friend said the Crusaders remain a threat across the park, and off it, with former captain and now coach Todd Blackadder a major boost to the seven-time Super champions' ranks.
"In defence they will put some pressure on us and look to force us into error, and if they do we know how good they can be in turning that ball into something positive," he said yesterday.
"Todd Blackadder coming in will have added some starch to that as well and they're renowned for having that very sound game structure, so in terms of things we respect, we respect the brand, who they are and what they've done in the past.
"They are a team that if you make an error, they will hurt you."
Friend has named an unchanged line-up for tonight's clash at Canberra Stadium, rewarding halfback Patrick Phibbs with another start ahead of Josh Holmes.
Holmes, who has been touted as one likely to challenge for national selection in 2009, had been widely expected to get the nod ahead of Phibbs as the Brumbies' No 9 prior to last week's opening round.
Friend instead opted to start the more robust Phibbs to counter the physicality of Highlanders and All Blacks halfback Jimmy Cowan.
That decision paid for the Brumbies and Friend said Phibbs is deserving of his place in the starting XV.
"Phibbsy's game control is very good," he said. "He leads the forwards well and he was instrumental in digging us out of a pretty big hole that we got ourselves into last week, so he deserves the chance to be there again."
The Brumbies have only lost 17 of their 82 Super rugby matches at home and have beaten the Crusaders five times in eight meetings at Canberra Stadium. But they will also be mindful of last year's clash with the Crusaders when they were handed a 34-3 drubbing in Christchurch.
Despite the recent history and the clear and present danger even a wounded Crusaders outfit presents, Brumbies captain Stephen Hoiles said the ACT side was more focused on improving on last week's performance.
"I think the pressure always comes from within," Hoiles said. "We're expecting to put in a more consistent performance, and hopefully get four points."
A big crowd is expected for the Brumbies first home game of the season, which doubles as a fund-raising effort for the Victoria Bushfires Appeal.
- AAP
