Sharks v Crusaders: Teams
Sharks can welcome back three players from injury following last week's shock defeat at bottom-placed Cheetahs.
Last Updated: 16/04/09 10:57am
Sharks can welcome back three players from injury following last week's shock defeat at bottom-placed Cheetahs.
Utility back Waylon Murray, winger JP Pietersen and flanker Jean Deysel are all set to play some sort of role with Murray and Pietersen bracketed on the wing.
Should Pietersen play, Murray will wear the number 22 jersey ahead of Luzuko Vulindlu while Deysel will start from the bench.
Lock Steven Sykes, hooker Bismarck du Plessis and prop Beast Mtawarira - laid low last week with an assortment of minor ailments - have rejoined the team to provide huge impetus going into this final clash ahead of a much-needed bye.
Sykes reclaims his starting jersey after a bout of flu and Du Plessis starts at hooker, affording Springbok captain John Smit a breather on the bench alongside Mtawarira.
McCaw to return
Crusaders have All Blacks captain Richie McCaw back after a month-long absence following a knee injury he picked up against the Highlanders.
His return is a timely one as his replacement George Whitelock is heading home from the side's tour South Africa for treatment having himself sustained a knee injury.
With centre Casey Laulala's season ending with a broken arm suffered during the 16-13 defeat of the Bulls two weeks ago, coach Todd Blackadder has opted to start Tim Bateman in his place.
Ryan Crotty has been promoted off the bench into the number 12 shirt while scrum-half Andy Ellis has been bracketed with Kahn Fotuali'i and will start if he recovers from a rib injury.
Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 11 JP Pietersen/Waylon Murray, 10 Francois Steyn, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Keegan Daniel, 6 Jacques Botes 5. Johann Muller (c), 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Deon Carstens.
Replacements: 16 John Smit, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Albert van den Berg, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Monty Dumond, 22 Luzuko Vulindlu/Waylon Murray.
Crusaders: 15 Leon MacDonald, 14 Jared Payne, 13 Tim Bateman, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Colin Slade, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Andy Ellis/Kahn Fotuali'i; 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Kieran Read, 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Bronson Murray, 2 Jason Macdonald, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Daniel Perrin, 17 Owen Franks, 18 Ross Filipo, 19 Michael Paterson, 20 Fotuali'i/Tyson Keats, 21 Adam Whitelock, 22 Kade Poki.