The curtain-raiser may be just as interesting as the main game when the Crusaders and Highlanders play in Christchurch on Saturday night.
As part of the entertainment in the opening-round match of the Super 14, a Crusaders Legends team will take on a Highlanders Legends team at AMI Stadium, starting at 5.30pm.
The Crusaders team will feature such players as former All Black captain Reuben Thorne, former Crusaders captain Richard Loe and other All Blacks such as Sam Broomhall, Steve Surridge and Caleb Ralph.
Graeme Bachop will also play for the Crusaders while his older brother, Stephen, will turn out for the Highlanders side.
Brad Fleming ,who played for both franchises in his playing career, will run out for the Crusaders side.
The Highlanders side will be captained by John Leslie, who was the captain of the Highlanders in its inaugural year.
He will be joined by fellow Scottish international Brendan Laney.
Former All Blacks who will turn out for the Highlanders team include Kees Meeuws, Taine Randell and Jamie Joseph.
Canterbury assistant coach Tabai Matson, who has helped organise the match, said training had been going well with more than 100kg lost by the former players as they try to get into some sort of match fitness.
