The All Black captain Richie McCaw returns to action this weekend, named to start on the bench in the Crusaders Super Rugby clash with the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney on Sunday.
McCaw hasn't played since the World Cup and has recovered from the surgery on his right foot.
Coach Todd Blackadder has made three changes to the starting XV that beat the Hurricanes last weekend, with lock Luke Romano starting ahead of Tom Donnelly, prop Ben Franks moving from tighthead to loosehead, and Owen Franks starting at tighthead.
Hooker Ben Funnell may get his first run for the Crusaders this season if he comes off the bench for starting hooker Corey Flynn.