Rugby: Three crocked Crusaders set to return - but not McCaw

Richie McCaw. Photo / Getty Images

All Black captain Richie McCaw is likely to spend another week in the coaches' box alongside Todd Blackadder and Daryl Gibson, but three other Crusaders have a chance of leaving the sick bay.

Wing Sean Maitland, Sonny Bill Williams and Kahn Fotuali'i are primed for a return as the Crusaders look ahead to their trip to Nelson for an elimination playoff with the Sharks.

Assistant coach Gibson said yesterday that with the World Cup in mind, they were committed to erring on the side of caution with McCaw, though there was a small possibility he could play a role off the bench if his rehab went especially well this week.

McCaw's entree into the world of coaching has proved enlightening for both player and coaches.

"He's giving us a good insight into the players' perspective," Gibson said.

"Sometimes we'll sit up there and be bemused that the players can't see the options we're seeing, but he offers insights there as to why. It's also good for his experience, his all-round rugby knowledge, to see the game from the other side."

Gibson said he expected Williams, Fotuali'i and Maitland to get the all-clear this week.

Maitland has not played since leaving the field after half an hour against the Stormers on May 8, the same game back-up halfback Fotuali'i crocked himself.

Maitland had been the form winger of the competition until injuring his foot. The durable Brent Ward was drafted in and has performed admirably without providing the thrust Maitland does.

Fotuali'i offers spark off the bench, although the form Andy Ellis is in suggests he will not be greatly needed.

Williams offers the sort of game-breaking ability few others can and it has also been notable that the form of Robbie Fruean increases dramatically with the part-time pugilist alongside him.

Williams' season has stuttered in the second half, with the bruised hip he suffered against the Blues and that saw him miss the Hurricanes encounter the latest ailment.

Gibson said had the Wellington match been a must-win, Williams could have played.

"It was one of those ones where we felt we still had a game to go and given another week off, he should respond well."

The Crusaders have had two tough, playoff-like derbies to end their round-robin campaign, but have wryly noted that finishing top of the conference appears to have done them few favours.

While they get the benefit this week of playing a team travelling from South Africa - a team they have already beaten comfortably this season - a win in Nelson would send them across a sea, a continent and an ocean to face the Stormers.

While they have beaten the Stormers at Newlands and lost to the Reds in Brisbane in the past two months, the Crusaders would have chosen a semifinal in Brisbane over Cape Town in a heartbeat.

"It's the year of doing everything the hard way," Gibson said. "The hard way is to go to South Africa, win there and come back and win. It's what we've faced all year, so I guess a little bit of adversity is good for you."

The Crusaders will train in Christchurch all week before travelling to Nelson on Friday.