Thomas Waldrom's playing days in the Super 14 rugby competition are numbered, but the tireless Crusader is leaving no stone unturned as he endeavours to bow out with a winner's medal around his neck.
After the Crusaders finish their campaign, Waldrom, who will turn 27 next week, leaves for England and a contract with the Leicester club.
Frustrated by limited chances at the Hurricanes, the bulky Wellingtonian linked with the Crusaders last year and was an instant hit, playing all 14 games and being named 'Crusader of the year'.
This season he's faced competition at No 8 from All Blacks incumbent, Kieran Read, but he has started five times and that will become six when the Crusaders confront the Western Force in round 11 in Perth on Friday (11.45pm NZT).
Coach Todd Blackadder confirmed seven personnel changes and two positional switches to a powerful starting 15 confirmed today, with All Blacks Daniel Carter, Brad Thorn, Read, Zac Guildford and Owen Franks all returning while in-form halfback Kahn Fotuali'i retained the No 9 jersey ahead of a fit-again All Black Andy Ellis (concussion).
Waldrom said he wanted to savour his final few matches in red and black.
"My main goal in coming here was to win the (Super 14) competition and we've definitely got the team to do that. It would be great to go out on a winning note so I could always look at the mantelpiece and see the trophy there."
Waldrom scored twice in the 45-6 hammering of the Cheetahs to double his try tally for the Crusaders and the second one -- from a push-over after a 5m scrum gave his special pleasure, the try being followed by a fist pump.
"You don't often see (push-over tries) now. I remember last year when we played the Sharks they almost got one against us. I knew if I took one more step I'd stuff it up so I made sure I did all the things right and got over the line. It was pretty special to be on the end of it, but it came after a great effort by the tight five."
Waldrom said it was important for the team to bind well on their upcoming road trip, which takes in tough back-to-back matches against the Stormers and Bulls, and follow the right nutrition and sleep patterns in Australia and South Africa.
But he saw no reason why that would not happen and why the Crusaders could not return home with three wins.
"You've got to be confident - we're on top of the table and playing some good footy and we want to keep that going. We know it's going to be massive so we have to prepare well and do the little things right to get the results we're after."
Waldrom said the Force had the Crusaders' respect after the teams drew in Christchurch last year and also when they first met in Perth in 2006.
"They like to have their home ground as a fortress as do many teams so they will be a big test for us in Perth."
Star pivot Carter was passed fit at training yesterday to return after a hip injury forced him out of the win over the Cheetahs which saw the Crusaders claim the competition lead on points differential.
Read (shoulder) reclaims the No 6 jersey from George Whitelock, while Thorn and Guildford return from the bench to replace Sam Whitelock and Jared Payne (concussion) respectively.
In other changes, Adam Whitelock returns to the right wing and Sean Maitland shifts to fullback, relegating Colin Slade to the bench; centre Robbie Fruean replaces Tim Bateman and prop Franks replaces fellow All Black Wyatt Crockett, with his brother Ben Franks shifting to loosehead.
