Superstar flyhalf Dan Carter has warned his Crusaders teammates to bring their A games to AMI Stadium on Saturday night or watch the NSW Waratahs walk off with the Super 14 spoils.

While Carter said the Crusaders's 33-22 semi-final win over the Hurricanes had restored confidence after two narrow wins and two defeats in their last four round-robin games, he admitted nothing less than a complete performance would be good enough against the Waratahs.

"There is a real self-belief in the squad, even though we've been through a couple of scratchy wins and a loss," Carter said.

"That game on the weekend meant we were up for playoff time, so we got a lot of confidence from that.

"But we realise we have to step up another level because it will be a lot harder challenge this weekend.

"The Waratahs are playing extremely well. I rate them very highly. They are capable of beating any side.

"So we have to be right at the top of our game if we are going to come away with the outcome we're after.

"They are the team with the most momentum going into the playoffs. They were playing some good footy and had some good wins."

Carter said the Waratahs' new-look side, featuring six personnel changes and a nice blend of youthful exuberance and finals-hard veterans, was poles apart from the side that crashed to a 34-7 loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch eight weeks ago.

"They would have learned a lot from that game ... they will be a different side and a lot tougher challenge than they were that night.

"They've shown they can use real width and score some great tries. They have some real gamebreakers - Turner and Tuqiri, there's a lot of skill and pace out wide.

"It is something we have to watch out for." Carter's personal five-eighth duel with Kurtley Beale could be decisive - as could their respective goalkicking - but the All Blacks playmaker rejected a suggestion his teenage opposite could be the Waratahs' weak link in the high-stakes final.

"He has made real strides this season from last year," Carter said.

"With the ball in hand, he is always going to be a threat. You can't drift off him too quickly because he has great footwork.

"He's not the biggest guy so that's not on his side. But, if he gets good front-foot ball, he'll be dangerous"

While Carter slotted seven from seven against the Hurricanes, Beale could only manage two from seven against the Sharks, allowing Carter to apply some subtle pressure on his rival.

"It is a big occasion for him," Carter said.

"Hopefully we will sell out (AMI Stadium). Kicking can be pretty important. It is not about scoring four tries with a bonus point, so you have to take every opportunity as it comes and often that means kicking penalty goals."

Crusaders coach Robbie Deans, who predicted before the two sides' pre-season trial that they'd meet in the title match, tipped an "epic" final.

"There's no doubt the best two sides are in the final," Deans said. "We've got huge respect for their ability.

"We've got a great respect for the fact that they are peaking at the right time.

"They've always been a very physical confrontational team and they're adding some fluidity to that, they're adding some confidence in their attack.

"The chemistry's pretty good. They've got a very good backline."

Like his Waratahs counterpart Ewen McKenzie, the final will be Wallabies-bound Deans's last game as Crusaders coach.

But he said there was no room for sentiment and left Carter to share what Saturday night means to the Crusaders.

"It means a lot," Carter said. "We have been together close to six months now.

"We have shared a lot together and created a lot of friendships and this is why we play the game.

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