The Blues will be looking to improve their lineout which is currently the worst of all the New Zealand sides, running at just 71 percent on their own ball.
The Hurricanes have conceded the most penalties of the New Zealand sides with a total of 50, with half of those coming at the breakdown.
The Hurricanes have the better average when it comes to handling errors making just under 10 per game, while the Blues are averaging almost 12.
Beauden Barrett is the second highest points scorer in the competition with 57 (including one try), and is averaging thirteen points per game with the boot.
Jack Lam and Jason Eaton have been leading the Hurricanes' defensive line having made 56 and 51 tackles respectively.
Plenty of strike power in the Hurricanes' backline, with TJ Perenara having scored three tries while Andre Taylor and Cory Jane have two apiece.
The Hurricanes also have the edge on try scoring this season, averaging three per game while the Blues are sitting just under two.
CRUSADERS v CHEETAHS
It has been one year, 10 months and one day (or 680 days in total) since the Crusaders last played in Christchurch. Their last home game was against the Brumbies on the 14th of May, 2010.
These two teams have only played six times, with the Crusaders winning four of those games. However, the Cheetahs have won two of the last three matches between the two, and won comfortably 33-20 in Bloemfontein last year.
Cheetahs first five Johan Goosen is the leading points scorer in the competition with 65, all from the boot. He has also made three clean linebreaks and broken through 10 tackles this season.
Winger Willie Le Roux is top equal try scorer with three, and scored two of them last week in the Cheetah's last minute win over the Rebels.
Flanker Heinrich Brussow has made 61 tackles to date, while the Crusaders' Matt Todd has made 58 and played one less game.
Watch for the Cheetahs' inspirational hooker and captain, Adriaan Strauss, who has made 41 runs and scored a try for his side.
This game marks the return of Daniel Carter, who has been named on the bench having now recovered from the groin injury that put him out of the Rugby World Cup. Carter needs just four more appearances to achieve 100 Super games.
The Crusaders currently have the worst strike record of the New Zealand teams when it comes to try scoring this season, having only scored four in the three games they have played.
BRUMBIES v HIGHLANDERS
Of the sixteen games played the Brumbies have won nine to the Highlanders' seven. Last year the Highlanders won 26-20 in Invercargill.
The Highlanders haven't beaten the Brumbies in Canberra since 2006, when they managed a 28-26 victory.
While the Highlanders are conceding just over ten penalties per game, on average seven are coming at the breakdown which is the highest percentage of breakdown penalties for all the New Zealand sides.
The Brumbies came close to upsetting the Chiefs last week, and only conceded seven penalties in that game. However, handling errors were an issue with fifteen knock-ons spoiling their attack.
Adam Thomson has been a stand-out so far this season, winning 26 lineouts and making 46 runs with the ball. But James Haskell has been named to start at blindside this week, so how will the Highlanders fare without Thomson?
Midfielder Phil Burleigh has made seven offloads in the tackle this season, while fullback Ben Smith has been one of the best clean linebreakers for the Highlanders with four.
Watch for Andrew Hore, who is second only behind Matt Todd this season for breakdown steals by a New Zealand player. Hore has made six to date.
