Sonny Bill Williams is expected to start for the Crusaders against a NSW team that will be missing star Berrick Barnes in Friday's Super Rugby clash in Nelson.

Waratahs medical staff have given flyhalf Barnes the week off after he suffered a head knock in last Saturday's commanding 30-6 win over the Reds.

His place will be taken by the experienced Daniel Halangahu.

Williams has been sidelined with a leg injury but coach Todd Blackadder has told New Zealand's Radio Sport the he trained impressively on Monday and he expects him to make his Super Rugby debut on Friday.

"Yes he will (start), if he is fit. We're still waiting, we'll probably name the team on Wednesday but he's looking good at the moment," Blackadder said.

"It's a nice, good distraction to have him back in the side ... Sonny's been out of it for a while but he's been training like a demon. I've never seen anyone with a work ethic like him, he's done the hard yards."

The Crusaders lost their opening game 24-22 to the Blues before last week's Hurricanes match was cancelled and declared a draw following the Christchurch earthquake.

Monday's training session was the Crusaders' first hit-out in five days after the squad was given time off to deal with the tragic consequences of the 6.3 magnitude quake that has so far claimed 154 lives, including the franchise's popular board member Philip McDonald.

"Everyone's had time to settle in and get their house in order and make sure that everyone's safe and able to focus on the job at hand," Blackadder said.

"They trained really well yesterday (Monday) and I don't think there'll be a problem."

Blackadder, a former All Black flanker, expects plenty of emotion from his side but said the Crusaders are also going into the game well-prepared tactically against their unbeaten opponents.

"Emotions can only take you so far and we come up against a really good Waratahs team," he said.

"Watching them on the weekend, they took the Reds apart.

"We have to be really clinical and execute our game plan. We had a good meeting with the players and we talked about our tactics and the things we need to do if we are to win this game."

The Crusaders were forced to move their home games to Trafalgar Park due to damage at Christchurch's AMI Stadium.

Meanwhile, All Blacks and Crusaders skipper Richie McCaw continues to make a steady recovery after undergoing an operation on his fractured right foot.

"He's due to see one of the All Black medical staff and do a bit of work and put together some rehab programs, so he's progressing well," Crusaders team manager Tony Thorpe said.

The 30-year-old flanker suffered the injury earlier this month during a fitness test and the initial diagnosis was that he would be out for six weeks.

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