Preview: Crusaders v Highlanders

This southern battle will have every supporter singing just one song – can we please have something better than that ghastly match a year ago that set a new low for points scored in a Rebel Sport Super 14 rugby match? With Daniel Carter and Richie McCaw on one side and a solid-looking, experienced Highlanders team on the other, it isn't much to ask for.

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VENUE & TIME: AMI Stadium, Christchurch, Saturday February 13, 19.35 NZT.

HEAD TO HEAD: Played 17 – Crusaders 11, Highlanders 6.

LAST TIME: March 7, 2009 (Dunedin) – Highlanders 6-0 Crusaders.

LAST TIME AT VENUE: May 17, 2008 – Crusaders 14-26 Highlanders.

WALKING WOUNDED: Prop Wyatt Crockett and hooker Corey Flynn were both unavailable for selection for the Crusaders due to ankle injuries, while lock Chris Jack's return was held up as the result of a wrist inury. Backs Kade Poki and Ryan Crotty were not considered due to respective knee and concussion concerns.

FORM: The Crusaders had mixed results in their battles of the colours, losing to the Reds and beating the Blues by small margins in each case, while the Highlanders beat the Chiefs and then a Fijian invitation side.

WHO'S HOT: As ever, the Crusaders will be among the early favourites and the return of Daniel Carter plays a big part in that optimism. As well as his superior all-round skills he brings a 13-point scoring average to every match he plays, something few kickers can match. One hopes Carter's presence encourages the Crusaders to play a more expansive style than a year ago, as Zac Guildford, Sean Maitland and Tim Bateman are exciting young talents. Richie McCaw and Kieran Read are among the competition's best loose forwards and Owen Franks may well be regarded as one of the best props by the end of this year. The Highlanders have retained most of their draft players from a year ago and the strong Hawke's Bay contingent of Matt Berquist, Jason Shoemark, Israel Dagg and Clint Newland will all be key men. Local All Blacks Tom Donnelly, Adam Thomson, Ben Smith and Jimmy Cowan need to make major contributions on a weekly basis if the Highlanders are going to make a run at the four.

WE THINK: Although the Highlanders have won the last two meetings, we're going for the obvious call and taking the Crusaders to get off to a winning start in 2010. The red-and-blacks may not be the powerhouse of old but with two of the competition's most dominant individuals, should be good enough to win this one by around 10 points.

TEAMS:

Crusaders: 1.Ben Franks, 2. Ti'i Paulo, 3.Owen Franks, 4.Sam Whitelock, 5.Isaac Ross, 6.Kieran Read (captain), 7.George Whitelock, 8.Thomas Waldrom, 9.Andy Ellis, 10.Daniel Carter, 11.Zac Guildford, 12.Tim Bateman, 13.Robert Fruean, 14.Jared Payne, 15.Colin Sade.

Reserves: 16.Quentin MacDonald, 17.Peter Borlase, 18.Brad Thorn, 19.Jonathon Poff, 20.Kahn Fotuali'i, 21.Adam Whitelock, 22.Sean Maitland.

Highlanders: 1.Jamie Mackintosh, 2.Jason Rutledge, 3.Clint Newland, 4.Josh Bekhuis, 5.Tom Donnelly, 6.Adam Thomson, 7.Alando Soakai, 8.Nasi Manu, 9.Jimmy Cowan (captain), 10.Matt Berquist, 11.James Paterson, 12.Jayden Hayward, 13.Jason Shoemark, 14.Ben R Smith, 15.Israel Dagg.

Reserves: 16.Jason Macdonald, 17.Chris King, 18.Hayden Triggs, 19.John Hardie, 20.Sean Romans, 21.Michael Hobbs, 22.Fetu'u Vainikolo.

REFEREE: Chris Pollock