Bryn Hall will start in his 100th Super Rugby game tomorrow.
The halfback comes in for Mitch Drummond in one of two changes to the Crusaders line-up as they travel to Auckland to face the Blues.
It will be a fitting way to mark the occasion for Hall, who is from Auckland and spent his first four years of Super Rugby with the Blues.
Joe Moody returns in place of Otago’s George Bower at the loosehead prop spot in the other change.
That leaves largely intact a line-up which has swept through with three convincing wins to open Super Rugby Aotearoa.
However, they will face what is likely to be their toughest test so far against a Blues side which has won their first two games just as convincingly.
They have made a handful of tweaks the line-up which disposed of the Highlanders a week ago.
Bryce Heem comes in on the right wing, replacing Mark Telea after leaving the field with a head injury last week.
Up front All Black duo Alex Hodgman and Nepo Laulala replace fellow All Black pair Karl Tu’inukuafe and Ofa Tu’ungafasi in the prop spots.
Josh Goodhue also returns at lock for Sam Darry, who impressed on debut last week, while Blake Gibson replaces Dalton Papali’i at openside flanker.
Blues coach Leon MacDonald said the Crusaders posed a tough challenge and he was glad to inject the experience of that group back into the team.
"We are only two games into a long season," he said.
"We are working very hard every day to improve with every game.
"The Crusaders are the team that all others measure their progress against, so this is that opportunity for us.
"It’s good to have some of our most experienced campaigners back."
