In one of rugby's great ironies, departing NSW coach Ewen McKenzie hasn't ruled out applying for the vacant Crusaders job, even if he plots their downfall in Saturday's eagerly-awaited Super 14 final.

While he was coy on the subject when quizzed by New Zealand journalists upon arrival in Christchurch on Thursday, McKenzie earlier told reporters in Sydney he was keeping his options open after the Waratahs' mid-season decision not to renew his contract for next year.

McKenzie was heartened by reports of support from influential Crusaders fans and said he would weigh up his future after Saturday's championship decider, when the Waratahs mentor will pit his wits against the Crusaders' incoming Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.

"Come Sunday, I will have to look at what I'm doing. I never say never to anything in rugby so that's it," McKenzie said when asked if the Crusaders role appealed to him.

"Someone mentioned (I am) getting support from the Canterbury Supporters' Club. Well, that's nice.

"I've had a lot of experience with the supporters' clubs in New Zealand and they're very pro-rugby and very enthusiastic, so it will be nice to have a little support from over there. It will be good."

On the other side of the Tasman, though, McKenzie - a former Wallabies assistant coach and selector who is also in the running for jobs in France and Ireland - was downplaying speculation linking him to the Crusaders.

"Don't always believe what you read in the newspaper," he told reporters at Christchurch airport.

"I haven't had any conversations with the Crusaders."

Should he formally apply for the role, McKenzie will find himself up against Crusaders assistant coach and former All Blacks hooker Mark Hammett.

A foundation Crusader who was forced to retire with a neck injury in 2004 after playing 81 games for the franchise, Hammett has been groomed as Deans's right-hand man for the past two seasons after serving as lineout coach in 2005-06.

"I'll throw my hat in the ring and we'll see what happens when they meet on July 16 (to discuss coaching candidates)," Hammett told AAP.

Regardless, the ever-pragmatic McKenzie insisted last month that he wouldn't be thumbing his nose at the NSW board which effectively showed him the door, even if he ended up coaching the Waratahs to this year's title.

He wouldn't need to if the Crusaders snapped him up - being picked as Deans' replacement at the helm of the six-time champions would send a message about the quality of coach NSW is letting go.

McKenzie has gone to great lengths to ensure his swansong doesn't become a bigger issue than the final itself and, similarly, he cautioned the Crusaders against allowing Deans' last game in charge to distract the home side.

"We were involved last year in Tana Umaga's farewell game (for the Hurricanes) and we beat them by a record score and that sort of ruined the occasion just a little bit," he said.

"If you put a lot into the emotional side of it, you want to get the occasion right. Sometimes you can overdo that, and I don't expect the Crusaders will be guilty of that.

"I think it's a dangerous investment to get sidetracked on individuals."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP