The top of the table Hurricanes host the Crusaders in Wellington.<\/p>\n
Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw feels their clash against the Crusaders will decided weather they are capable of competing for a championship.<\/p>\n
Laidlaw has made four changes to his starting side, rolling out his premier starting front row, while Brayden Iose starts at blindside flanker, and Devon Flanders dropping to the bench which feature a 6-2 split.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really nice to bring the Crusaders up here and we\u2019re looking forward to testing ourselves against last year\u2019s champions,\u201d Laidlaw said.<\/p>\n
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cLast week was an amazing occasion, but we can\u2019t wait to get into another Kiwi derby and play at home for our second-last round-robin home match.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re lucky to pick a really cohesive team from the last couple of weeks. We think that gives us our best chance of success this week.\u201d<\/p>\n For the Crusaders, coach Rob Penney has retained Leicester Fainga\u02bbanuku at openside flanker, and he will link up with Ethan Blackadder, who makes his return from a calf injury.<\/p>\n Penney said having Fainga\u02bbanuku in the No 7 jersey gives his side a good balance to the physical side of the game.<\/p>\n \u201cHe allows us to probably put a bit more emphasis on our pack and what we\u2019re doing there,\u201d Penney said. \u201cHe\u2019s got another opportunity and we\u2019ve got some quality impact off the bench because of it. <\/p>\n Captain David Havili will also celebrate his 150th match for the Crusaders. Will Jordan and Sevu Reece both remain sidelined.<\/p>\n The Crusaders have won six of their last eight Super Rugby matches against the Hurricanes and five of their last six in New Zealand\u2019s capital.<\/p>\n Hurricanes: 1. Xavier Numia, 2. Asafo Aumua, 3. Pasilio Tosi, 4. Caleb Delany, 5. Warner Dearns, 6. Brayden Iose, 7. Du\u2019Plessis Kirifi, 8. Brayden Iose, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Ruben Love, 11. Fehi Fineanganofo, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Billy Proctor, 14. Josh Moorby, 15. Callum Harkin.<\/p>\n