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The Crusaders are praying for kinder fortunes on the injury front in the Super 14 with the defending champions having a number of players unavailable or doubtful for their next match against the Highlanders.
Coach Todd Blackadder is grateful they are not playing the Highlanders until Saturday as question marks hang over the fitness of Casey Laulala, Ben Franks and Brad Thorn, while Kade Poki is almost certainly out with an ankle injury.
Blackadder says they are having a bad run with injuries but they do have time up their sleeve to get some, if not all, of the affected players right.
Making matters worse, Blackadder is unable to dip into the Crusaders' wider training squad to replenish his stocks. He says he can not do that until two players in one position are unavailable and that is not the case for the Crusaders at the moment.
The encouraging news is that All Blacks Leon MacDonald and Andy Ellis are likely to return for Saturday.
MacDonald damaged his shoulder against the Chiefs in round one and has not played since. Blackadder says MacDonald is still a bit uncomfortable but they are hopeful that by the end of the week he will be right to play.
Ellis is likely to play after a week off with an ankle problem.
The defending champions are eighth after three rounds with just one win from three games. Blackadder says they are not hitting any panic buttons yet but have taken a good look at themselves and they know what is required to get things right.
- NEWSTALK ZB
