Cape Town - The Crusaders have begun to plan for Dan Carter's temporary hiatus, making an approach to former back Stephen Brett to cover for his departure.

According to the allblacks.com website, Carter's wife, Honor, is due to have the couple's first baby in April, which means that the Crusaders may travel without the Super Rugby's record points scorer to South Africa and Australia next month.

The Crusaders host the Kings this weekend, and while Carter is all but guaranteed to start that match, the next month will be tentative as the Carter's will seek privacy in the coming weeks.

Brett, who has been playing with Toyota in the Japanese Top League, could have played and was reportedly keen to link up, but he is still injured and out of action with a foot injury, while he is beginning to set up his new life in France, having signed with Bayonne.

Following their match against the Kings this weekend, the Crusaders will travel to South Africa to play the Stormers (Saturday, March 30 at 19:10) and Sharks (Friday, April 5 at 19:10). They will then stop in Perth to face the Force on Saturday April 13 (kick-off 13:45) on their way back to New Zealand.