KEY POINTS:
Super 14 rugby leaders the Crusaders could be forgiven if their concentration levels slipped a little against the lowly placed Highlanders tonight.
With a home semifinal in the bag, the traditional southern derby with their old rivals - placed third to last and out of contention - might be seen has having little significance.
But coach Robbie Deans wasn't buying into that after the Crusaders' training run yesterday.
"It's got huge significance for us," he said. "We want to come out of this game in a really good frame of mind, and the key to that is entering it in a good frame of mind. It's our last workout prior to the playoffs.
"Sure, we have the luxury of knowing we've got a playoff, but the critical thing is being prepared for that and being in the best state of mind and body."
Top of the table on 52 points, the Crusaders head into the final Super 14 round robin this week secure in the knowledge they cannot be dislodged.
But the remaining three semifinal qualifiers have yet to be decided.
The Hurricanes (40 points), the Waratahs (39) and the Stormers (37) are the current front runners to complete the playoffs lineup but all three could be displaced if they slip up.
Deans said he wanted to use the Highlanders encounter to "address our habits". He said there was "some good stuff" in last week's come-from-behind 27-21 win over the Queensland Reds in Brisbane.
"There was some pretty average stuff as well and we want to just shift the pendulum a bit further along."
While acknowledging the Highlanders had always been a "particularly difficult" opponent over the years with the "derby element" adding some fire to the contest, he said he wasn't too concerned with what the Southerners would bring to Saturday's match. "It's what we bring to the game that's our priority this week."
The return from injury of stalwart lock Reuben Thorne in place of Kieran Read is one of seven starting changes to the side that beat the Reds.
Thorne, 33, will match Highlander Anton Oliver's record for Super rugby longevity when he steps on to the stadium this week in his 127th match for the Crusaders.
He will share honours with Oliver for making the most appearances for a New Zealand franchise.
It will also be Thorne's first appearance since he broke a knuckle while leading the Crusaders against the Lions last month.
In other changes, first five-eighth Dan Carter, halfback Andy Ellis, lock Ali Williams, prop Ben Franks and hooker Corey Flynn return to the starting lineup after starting from the reserves bench in Brisbane.
Deans has also made another change at centre, where utility Caleb Ralph comes in for Casey Laulala.
"It's more to give Casey a little bit of a window," Deans explained. "He got a bit of a surprise in last week's game and he was a bit sore early in the week. He's okay to play, but we'll bring him into the game later."
Deans said he hadn't decided whether Carter, who made an immediate impact last week when he came off the bench to clinch the winning try, would play a full 80 minutes tonight.
The mercurial All Blacks pivot was eased back into the fray against the Reds after recovering from the ankle injury that had sidelined him since March 28.
"It's certainly something we'll monitor," Deans said. "If he starts to tighten, we'll probably pull him because we have that luxury."
But Carter would be first-choice goal-kicker for the Highlanders match.
Deans said he was confident with the team mix and pleased "our injury status is improving" before the semis.
"Essentially we're back on track," he said. "We went through some challenges, but everyone's back on deck. It gives us choice."
- NZPA
