Blues coach Leon MacDonald may have shown his hand with the selection of Harry Plummer at second-five for their top-of-the-table Super Rugby Aotearoa clash against the Crusaders.
In the process, MacDonald has also refrained from injecting All Blacks great Dan Carter into the playing line-up, despite playing 80 minutes of club rugby last weekend.
Plummer, 22, who piloted Auckland's successful 2018 Mitre 10 Cup campaign in the No.10 jersey, replaces veteran leader TJ Faiane, who will start off the bench.
The selection suggests MacDonald wants to keep the Crusaders on the back foot, with three accomplished first-fives in the Blues backline.
All Black star Beauden Barrett will again wear the No.15 jersey, meaning another start for Otere Black - arguably the competition's form first-five of the competition.
MacDonald says his side must be clinical in all facets of the game to challenge the Crusaders in the battle of the undefeated.
"If we can implement our gameplan and execute, then there's no reason why we can't provide a stern test," MacDonald says of the task ahead in Christchurch.
"We know that we will need to be very accurate with and without the ball, while the battle in the forwards for clean frontfoot possession will be key.
"The Crusaders are the benchmark of New Zealand rugby, so we are under no illusion about the task ahead of us. They have won their last 35 home games of Super Rugby."
Carter could also have provided that third kicking option from second-five, where he made his Super Rugby debut with the Crusaders, but is obviously still short of game fitness - even for a bench role - after several months on the sideline.
Elsewhere, excellent performances as a substitute have earned halfback Finlay Christie a start in the only other change to the backline.
Up front, All Blacks prop Karl Tu'inukuafe returns from injury for a place on the bench, while the in-form loose forward trio of Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papalii and Akira Ioane remains intact, despite Blake Gibson's return from injury.
"The team is naturally excited about the contest and we are confident," says MacDonald. "If the weather plays ball, it should be a cracking game," MacDonald said.
Blues: 1-Alex Hodgman, 2-James Parsons, 3-Ofa Tuungafasi, 4-Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 5-Josh Goodhue, 6-Akira Ioane, 7-Dalton Papalii, 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Finlay Christie, 10-Otere Black, 11-Caleb Clarke, 12-Harry Plummer, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Mark Telea, 15-Beauden Barrett
Reserves: 16-Kurt Eklund, 17-Karl Tu'inikuafe, 18-Sione Mafileo, 19-Aaron Carroll, 20-Blake Gibson, 21-Jonathan Ruru, 22-TJ Faiane, 23-Matt Duffie
Join us at 7pm Saturday for live updates of the Crusaders v Blues Super Rugby Aotearoa clash
