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Wellington - Richie McCaw looks set to play his first Vodacom Super Rugby match of the season after being named in the Crusaders squad for Friday's clash with the Chiefs but Dan Carter has been ruled out through injury.
All Blacks skipper McCaw, widely regarded as the world's best openside flank, had surgery on a broken foot on the eve of the season and missed the first eight weeks but will return on the bench for Friday's match in Mt Maunganui.
Flyhalf Carter was recalled to the starting line-up after missing the 27-0 mauling of the champion Bulls last Saturday because of a hamstring problem but was ruled out again after it tightened on him again in training on Wednesday.
Carter, the all time leading scorer in Super Rugby, will be replaced by Matt Berquist, who stood in for him and led the backline against the Bulls last weekend.
Berquist will have a new halfback partner after Kahn Fotuali'i was named at scrumhalf in place of Andy Ellis.
With McCaw on the bench, number eight Kieran Read will start as captain as he has throughout the seven-times champions' impressive start to the season.
The victory over the Bulls was a fifth in a row and they top the New Zealand conference despite the draw that was agreed after they were forced to call off their match against the Hurricanes in the wake of the deadly Christchurch earthquake.
Coach Todd Blackadder was not getting carried away, however, ahead of what he expected to be a tough encounter with the Chiefs, who welcome back All Blacks fullback Mils Muliaina, who has not played since he suffered a back injury in the third week of the competition.
"These derby matches are especially important in this season's competition due to the conference format," Blackadder said in a news release.
"Traditionally they always carry extra spice and it will be a tough, physical match up there.
"I was pleased with what we achieved against the Bulls in Timaru last weekend but we still have plenty to work on and I know the guys are looking forward to doing that."
Teams
Substitutes: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Luke Romano, 19 Richie McCaw, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Tom Marshall, 22 Adam Whitelock.
Chiefs
TBA
