13/03/2008 11:46

Wellington - After a flying start to the season, the Crusaders are giving key players a breather for their Super 14 match against the Cheetahs on Saturday.

Despite making six changes, the match remains crucial for the Crusaders with pressure on the regular bench-warmers to maintain the team's unbeaten record.

After four rounds the Crusaders are just one point shy of a maximum 20, missing a bonus point against the Stormers, and are one point ahead of the second-placed Sharks, the only other unbeaten team.

The Crusaders are also returning home from an arduous trek to South Africa and Western Australia, and coach Robbie Deans said it was an "appropriate time to freshen the side up a little bit."

Kingpins Richie McCaw and Dan Carter start their fifth consecutive match, while the resting sextet includes All Blacks Ali Williams, Greg Somerville and Mose Tuiali'i.

Meanwhile, the Cheetahs, although winless this season and having never beaten the Crusaders, have made a sweeping eight changes to the side which narrowly lost to the Chiefs 22-20 last week.

Coach Naka Drotske denies waving the white flag, explaining that he wanted to give the younger members of his squad a run.

Teams:

Crusaders:

15. Leon MacDonald, 14. Scott Hamilton, 13. Casey Laulala, 12. Stephen Brett, 11. Sean Maitland, 10. Dan Carter, 9. Andrew Ellis, 8. Nasi Manu, 7. Richie McCaw (captain), 6. Reuben Thorne, 5. Michael Paterson, 4. Brad Thorn, 3. Ben Franks, 2. Ti`i Paulo, 1. Wyatt Crockett.

Reserves: 16. Corey Flynn, 17. Campbell Johnstone, 18. Ali Williams, 19. Mose Tuiali'i, 20. Kahn Fotuali'i, 21. Caleb Ralph, 22. Kieran Read.

Cheetahs:

15. Hennie Daniller, 14. Eddie Fredericks, 13. JW Jonker, 12. Hendrik Meyer, 11. Jongi Nokwe, 10. Conrad Barnard, 9. Tewis de Bruyn, 8. Kabamba Floors, 7. Darron Nell, 6. Hendro Scholtz (captain), 5. David Jacobus de Villiers, 4. Flip van der Merwe, 3. Jacobus Gerber Calldo, 2. Richardt Strauss, 1. Ronnie Uys.

Reserves: 16. Adriaan Strauss, 17. Wian du Preez, 18. Barend Pieterse, 19. Duane Vermeulen, 20. Tobias Botes, 21. Noel Oelschig, 22. Meyer Bosman.