Christchurch - Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has named the same match day squad for Saturday's Super Rugby semi-final with the Chiefs in Christchurch.
Like last weekend's 17-0 quarter-final victory over the Highlanders, lock Sam Whitelock will lead the seven-time champions which includes 11 All Blacks in the starting line-up.
It is the third time in Super Rugby history that these two teams have faced off in a semi-final, and the Chiefs have come out the victors on both of those previous occasions.
But Robertson said this is a different time and different circumstances.
"They used their home ground advantage on those occasions, but this time we have earned the chance to play in front of our own supporters and that means a lot to us," he told the Crusaders' official website.
To see so many of our supporters still come out to the game last weekend in such miserable conditions was humbling, so that is even more motivation for the team to put on a performance to make the fans proud this Saturday night," Robertson said.
Teams:
Crusaders
15 David Havili, 14 Israel Dagg, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Seta Tamanivalu, 10 Richie Mo'unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Sam Whitelock (captain), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody
Substitutes: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Wyatt Crockett,18 Michael Alaalatoa, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 George Bridge
Chiefs
15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Tim Nanai-Williams, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown , 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden (co-captain), 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Michael Leitch,7 Sam Cane (co-captain), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Mitchell Brown, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Kane Hames
Substitutes: 16 Liam Polwart, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 Atu Moli, 19 Dominic Bird, 20 Lachlan Boshier, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Stephen Donald, 23 Shaun Stevenson