01/02/2008 14:32

Sydney - New Wallaby coach Robbie Deans insists he will have no trouble putting the Crusaders first and Australia second as he prepares to bid for a fifth and final Super 14 title at the helm of the Kiwi franchise.

According to the Australian Associated Press (AAP), Deans arrived in Australia with his current employers on Friday, ready for a pre-season clash with fellow New Zealander John Mitchell's Western Force in Melbourne on Saturday night.

And while Deans is not too keen to answer questions about his next and most controversial coaching assignment, he realises the queries will come - and he is clear as to where his current priorities lie.

"It is very straightforward, I am only wearing one hat. That (Wallabies) campaign is next, and there is nothing I can do with that group until it gathers in June," Deans said.

"I fulfill my obligations here and then I start there."

That those Crusaders' obligations continue in Australia against his close friend and former All Blacks coaching colleague Mitchell will bring even more questions about his international planning later this year.

But Deans said he is more concerned about the threat posed by the third-year Force, who he considers genuine Super 14 title contenders.

"It is good to be able to get quality opposition, and the Force are that," Deans said.

"You have only got to look at the playing roster, they have got genuine depth and class.

"They will be frustrated they got close last year and then tapered, so they will be pretty keen to push on and playing us will be the first indicator of that."

Mitchell, who was in charge of New Zealand with Deans as his deputy during the 2003 World Cup campaign, believed Deans would have no trouble disconnecting from the Wallabies job until the time came.

"Knowing him he will discard that and deal with the Wallabies when that situation arrives. He will be clearly focused on the Crusaders group," Mitchell said.

"It will be an emotional year for him I think, because he has played all his rugby and coached there (in Christchurch) for a long time and brought the team success and brought the community an enormous amount of pleasure."

And any talk of Mitchell possibly becoming Deans's international deputy later this year was skillfully deflected by the former All Black lock.

"I'm helping him as a Super 14 coach, and it is important I look after this role here," Mitchell said.

"Hopefully through team performance we enhance individuals chance to play international rugby.

"What excites me is that he will select on excellence rather on reputation and the state where you come from, and that excites our player group."

The Crusaders travelled to Victoria without All Black lock Ross Filipo, who will miss the start of the Super 14 campaign after back surgery.

Champion flyhalf Dan Carter (calf) and hooker Corey Flynn (thumb) will also not play in Melbourne, although they may play in the final warm-up game against the Waratahs in Sydney next week.

The Force named a 28-man squad, which included Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell and Cameron Shepherd, but is without Scott Fava, Lachlan Mackay and Scott Staniforth.