Fullback Will Jordan returns from a calf injury in a massive boost for the Crusaders, while utility Chay Fihaki is back from a hamstring injury. Both players have slotted straight back in to the starting side, the only changes coach Rob Penney has made to the XV.
On the bench, lock Liam Jack, son of former Crusader Graham Jack, is in line to make his debut.
For the Chiefs, they welcome back Josh Lord from concussion while vice captain Quinn Tupaea also returns after serving a rest week.
The Chiefs will be without star playmaker Damian McKenzie, who suffered concussion in the 42-12 win over the Highlanders, meaning Isaac Hutchinson will start at fullback
Chiefs CEO Simon Graafhuis is encouraging their fans to try to smuggle cow bells into the Christchurch stadium.
Graafhuis said they will offer a reward for those who are successful, following on from the controversy during last year’s grand final where they were banned from Apollo Projects Stadium.
“We want to see your most creative smuggling efforts,” Graafhuis said. “Hidden in jackets, disguised as emotional support equipment, packed in children’s lunchboxes.
“Take a photo prior, tag Chiefs, Crusaders, Super Rugby Pacific and myself and I’ll find a unique prize for your efforts.”
The Crusaders have won their last two Super Rugby Pacific matches against the Chiefs.
Crusaders:1. George Bower, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Antonio Shalfoon, 5. Jamie Hannah, 6. Ethan Blackadder, 7. Leicester Fainga’anuku, 8. Christian Lio‑Willie, 9. Noah Hotham, 10. Rivez Reihana, 11. Sevu Reece, 12. David Havili (c), 13. Dallas McLeod, 14. Chay Fihaki, 15. Will Jordan.
Bench: 16. Manumaua Letia, 17. Jack Sexton, 18. Seb Calder, 19. Liam Jack, 20. Dom Gardiner, 21. Kyle Preston, 22. Taha Kemara, 23. Johnny McNicholl.
Chiefs: 1. Ollie Norris, 2. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3. Sione Ahio, 4. Josh Lord , 5. Tupou Vaa’i, 6. Samipeni Finau, 7. Luke Jacobson (c), 8. Wallace Sititi, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Josh Jacomb, 11. Kyren Taumoefolau, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Kyle Brown, 14. Liam Coombes-Fabling, 15. Isaac Hutchinson.
Bench: 16. Brodie McAlister, 17. Jared Proffit, 18. George Dyer, 19.Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20. Simon Parker, 21. Xavier Roe, 22. Tepaea Cook-Savage, 23. Daniel Rona.
Waratahs v Brumbies
Allianz Stadium, Sydney. Friday 9.35pm
The Waratahs remain without star midfielder Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii for their crucial Australian derby with the Brumbies.
The Waratahs must win themselves to remain in contention for the top six.
It will be the second straight match Suaali has missed with a hamstring injury, having been a late withdrawal from the for last week’s win over the Fijian Drua.
Triston Reilly will continue in the No13 jersey in an otherwise unchanged lineup.
The Waratahs must win themselves to remain in contention for the top six.
Meanwhile, a Brumbies victory would see them secure a top-six spot, while defeat could see them drop out by the end of the round depending on other results.
Coming off the bye, they’ve made minimal changes, with hooker Billy Pollard, lock Cadeyrn Neville and centre Kadin Pritchard joining the starting side.
The Waratahs have won two of their last three matches against the Brumbies. They are chasing consecutive wins over the Brumbies in Sydney for the first time since 2015.
Waratahs: 1. Jack Barrett, 2. Ioane Moananu, 3. Dan Botha,4. Matt Philip (c), 5. Miles Amatosero, 6. Clem Halaholo, 7. Charlie Gamble, 8. Angus Scott-Young, 9. Teddy Wilson, 10. Jack Bowen, 11. Triston Reilly, 12. Lawson Creighton, 13. Triston Reilly, 14. Harry Potter, 15. Max Jorgensen.
Bench: 16. Oniti Finau, 17. Isaac Kailea, 18. Apolosi Ranawai, 19. Ben Grant, 20. Jamie Adamson, 21. Michael McDonald, 22. Jack Debreczeni, 23. Joey Walton.
Brumbies: 1. James Slipper, 2. Billy Pollard, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Cadeyrn Neville, 5. Lachie Shaw, 6. Rob Valentini, 7. Rory Scott, 8. Toby Macpherson, 9. Ryan Lonergan (c), 10. Declan Meredith, 11. Corey Toole, 12. David Feliuai, 13. Kadin Pritchard, 14. Ollie Sapsford, 15. Tom Wright.
Bench: 16. Lachlan Lonergan, 17. Blake Schoupp, 18. Rhys van Nek, 19. Nick Frost, 20. Luke Reimer, 21. Klayton Thorn, 22. Tane Edmed, 23. Andy Muirhead.
Moana Pasifika v Reds
North Harbour Stadium, Auckland. Saturday, 4.35pm
It will be an emotional occasion at North Harbour as, as it stands, this will be Moana’s last home match. They will be aiming to bow out with pride.
The hosts welcome back playmaker Patrick Pellegrini, who returns from a month-long injury absence, shifting William Havili to fullback.
It won’t be easy with Moana, with the Reds welcoming back halfback Tate McDermot for his first appearance of the season.
McDermott hasn’t played a top-flight match since September last year after sustaining a hamstring injury in the Wallabies’ Bledisloe Cup test against the All Blacks at Eden Park.
Fraser McReight is also back as captain and openside flanker after being rested in the loss to the Western Force last weekend, while backs Josh Flook and Filipo Daugunu are further Wallabies returning from regeneration weeks as the Reds must win to keep their spot inside the top six.
The Queensland Reds have won three of their four Super Rugby Pacific matches against Moana Pasifika.
Moana Pasifika: 1. Malakai Hala-Ngatai,, 2. Millennium Sanerivi, 3. Atu Moli, 4. Allan Craig, 5. Veikoso Poloniati, 6. Miracle Faiilagi (c), 7. Semisi Paea, 8. Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 9. Augustine Pulu, 10. Patrick Pellegrini, 11. Glen Vaihu, 12. Tevita Latu, 13. Solomon Alaimalo, 14. Israel Leota, 15. William Havili.
Bench: 16. Mamoru Harada, 17. Abraham Pole, 18. Paula Latu, 19. Alefosio Aho, 20. Dominic Ropeti, 21. Siaosi Nginingini, 22. Faletoi Peni, 23. Tuna Tuitama.
Hurricanes v Highlanders
Hnry Stadium, Wellington. Saturday, 7.05pm
Hurricanes fans hoping to witness Fehi Fineanganofo break the Super Rugby try scoring season record will have to wait one more week, with the winger given a rest to face the Highlanders.
The Hurricanes have made six changes and a positional switch to their team that sees Ngane Punivai start for the first time this season in place of Fineanganofo, who is equal with Joe Roff and Ben Lam on 16 for the try-scoring record.
Billy Proctor also has the week off which sees Bailyn Sullivan partner Jordie Barrett in the midfield.
Tom Allen is in line to make his first Super Rugby appearance off the bench, while co-captain Du’Plessis Kirifi returns from a knee injury.
Pasilio Tosi and Josh Moorby are both set to make their 50th Hurricanes appearances.
For the Highlanders, it is their final match of the season and by the time it kicks off, they will likely know if making the top six is possible or not.
Xavier Tito-Harris will start on the right wing in place of Caleb Tangitau while other changes in the matchday 23 include Nic Shearer’s return to the starting team at halfback, with Adam Lennox shifting to the bench. Jona Nareki returns from suspension to line up at centre.
Outside backs Meihana Grindlay and Stanley Solomon are in line to make their debuts off the bench.
The Hurricanes have won their last 10 Super Rugby Pacific matches against the Highlanders, the longest winning run by either team in the history of this fixture. Their last defeat to the Highlanders in Wellington was in the 2015 grand final.
Hurricanes: 1. Siale Lauaki, 2. Asafo Aumua, 3. Pasilio Tosi, 4. Isaia Walker-Leawere, 5. Warner Dearns, 6. Devan Flanders, 7. Peter Lakai, 8. Brayden Iose, 9. Ereatara Enari, 10. Ruben Love, 11. Kini Naholo, 12. Jordie Barrett (c), 13. Bailyn Sullivan, 14. Ngane Punivai, 15. Josh Moorby.
Bench: 16. Jacob Devery, 17. Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18. Tevita Mafileo, 19. Tom Allen, 20. Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21. Jordi Viljoen, 22. Lucas Cashmore, 23. Jone Rova.
Highlanders: 1. Ethan de Groot (cc), 2. Jack Taylor, 3. Angus Ta’avao, 4. Tomás Lavanini, 5. Mitch Dunshea, 6. Te Kamaka Howden, 7. Lucas Casey, 8. Hugh Renton, 9. Nic Shearer, 10. Cameron Millar, 11. Jonah Lowe, 12. Timoci Tavatavanawai (cc), 13. Jona Nareki, 14. Xavier Tito-Harris, 15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.
Bench: 16. Henry Bell, 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18. Saula Ma’u, 19. Oliver Haig, 20. Sean Withy, 21. Adam Lennox, 22. Stanley Solomon, 23. Meihana Grindlay.
Western Force v Fijian Drua
HBF Park, Perth. Saturday, 9.35pm
By the time this match kicks off, both sides should know whether their faint hopes of making the top six remain alive.
The Force are currently in a slightly better position on 22 points, while the Drua are on 20, although they are six and eight points behind the sixth-placed Reds respectively.
The hosts will be without George Bridge, who is being rested having played the most minutes of any Force player this season.
Bayley Kuenzle will start in Bridge’s place in the midfield, while Boston Fakafanua is in line to make his debut off the bench.
The Drua have overhauled their squad, which will see Kitione Salawa become the fifth player to bring up 50 appearances for the franchise.
Halfback Simione Kuruvoli also returns to the squad following injury.
The Drua have won their last two Super Rugby Pacific matches against the Western Force.
Force: 1. Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3. Misinale Epenisa, 4. Jeremy Williams (c), 5. Darcy Swain, 6. Nick Champion de Crespigny, 7. Carlo Tizzano, 8. Vaiolini Ekuasi, 9. Nathan Hastie, 10. Max Burey, 11. Dylan Pietsch, 12. Hamish Stewart, 13. Bayley Kuenzle, 14. Zac Lomax, 15. Mac Grealy.
Bench: 16. Nic Dolly, 17. Marley Pearce, 18. Sef Fa’agase, 19. Franco Molina, 20. Will Harris, 21. Agustin Moyano, 22. Boston Fakafanua, 23. Kurtley Beale.
Fijian Drua: 1. Meli Tuni, 2. Zuriel Togiatama, 3. Samuela Tawake, 4. Mesake Vocevoce, 5. Temo Mayanavanua (c), 6. Vilive Miramira, 7. Kitione Salawa, 8. Isoa Tuwai, 9. Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 10. Kemu Valetini, 11. Manasa Mataele, 12. Virimi Vakatawa, 13. Maika Tuitubou, 14. Taniela Rakuro, 15. Isikeli Rabitu.
Bench: 16. Sairusi Ravudi, 17. Penaia Cakobau, 18. Mesake Doge, 19. Isoa Nasilasila, 20. Elia Canakaivata, 21. Simione Kuruvoli, 22. Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 23. Iosefo Namoce.
Bye: Blues