The home side is sweating on the fitness of players, with first five-eighth Chris Noakes a doubtful starter after picking up a nasty ankle injury in the victory over the Chiefs last week.
The Highlanders trained at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Wednesday and player fitness will be assessed this morning before a team is named.
The Crusaders have made just the one change to their starting side, with Ryan Crotty forced out with a tight hamstring.
He was named to play early yesterday but did not make it through training. He has been replaced by Adam Whitelock, with Patrick Osborne coming into the reserves.
All Black winger Zac Guildford comes on to the bench after finishing his suspension, and is bound to get a run.
Guildford has served a four-match ban for his drinking antics in the Cook Islands last year. He can not force his way back into the starting line-up with Sean Maitland and Israel Dagg picked on the wings.
Tom Marshall will start at fullback.
It will be a homecoming for Otago lock Tom Donnelly, who will be in the Crusaders second row with Sam Whitelock.
Donnelly played 65 games for the Highlanders before making the trip north this year.
Kieran Read captains the Crusaders.
Dan Carter and Richie McCaw are the two missing big guns for the Crusaders.
Crusaders
To play Highlanders
Tom Marshall, Sean Maitland, Robbie Fruean, Adam Whitelock, Israel Dagg, Tyler Bleyendaal, Andy Ellis, Kieran Read (captain), Matt Todd, George Whitelock, Sam Whitelock, Tom Donnelly, Ben Franks, Quentin MacDonald, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Corey Flynn, Owen Franks, Luke Romano, Luke Whitelock, Willie Heinz, Patrick Osborne, Zac Guildford.
