The Crusaders have pinpointed the breakdowns as a key to the outcome of their top-of-the-table New Zealand conference Super Rugby clash against the Highlanders.

Even without All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, the Crusaders have fielded a potent loose forward combination of All Blacks Kieran Read and George Whitelock, and emerging openside flanker Matt Todd, but they have a healthy respect for their Highlanders counterparts ahead of the Dunedin match on Saturday.

Adam Thomson has been in rampaging form and No 8 Nasi Manu and Alando Soakai have been nearly as good.

The Highlanders have a point advantage over the Crusaders after four rounds in the race to finish top of the New Zealand conference ladder.

"The Highlanders are worthy conference leaders. They have proven to be a very good side and did a marvellous job on the road in South Africa playing probably the two toughest teams away so they earned a lot of respect," Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder said on Thursday.

"It's going to be a tight, tough game as southern derbies always are and I think they'll have a lot of confidence, but we are going down there to rattle the cage a bit.

"They've got a tough attitude installed in them this year and the breakdown is something they've really focused on and they've got a lot of rewards there.

"They've kept their ball, which has helped their continuity and they're playing smart rugby."

The Crusaders have made two changes, both in the forwards, to the team which humbled the Brumbies 52-10 in Nelson last Friday.

Loose-head prop Wyatt Crockett will start off the bench for the first time with Ben Franks taking his place and propping with his younger brother, Owen.

All Blacks lock Brad Thorn slots back in the second row ahead of Chris Jack, who played his 100th match for the Crusaders last week.

In the reserves after recovering from injury are All Blacks wing Zac Guildford and halfback Kahn Fotuali'i.

The Crusaders have won 12 of 18 matches between the sides, but the Highlanders have won two of the last three including a 26-14 win in Christchurch in 2008 when the Crusaders led the table with the Highlanders near the bottom.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP