Sam Whitelock will have the final say over his involvement in this weekend's Super Rugby Pacific final, after battling an Achilles concern.
Whitelock, 34, has been out of action for the Super Rugby playoffs so far, after aggravating his Achilles in the Crusaders' final regular season match against the Hurricanes.
The All Blacks and Crusaders veteran played no part in home victories over Fijian Drua and the Blues, in the hope of being fit should his side reach the championship decider.
But now that the Crusaders have booked their place in Saturday's final - facing the Chiefs in Hamilton - Whitelock will ultimately decide what role he plays.
"Watching that guy rehab that Achilles injury over the last two or three weeks has been unbelievable," said Crusaders assistant coach Dan Perrin.
"He's got his foot in an ice bucket every morning, he's in physio three or four times daily.
"He's doing everything he can to make himself available. At the end of the day, you trust his decision.
"He's an experienced campaigner. We trust the decision that he makes.
"We trust Sam and trust our medical team to make the right decision."
Depending on how serious the injury actually is, an Achilles issue can take anywhere from two weeks to six months to heal.
Whitelock's absence would be another injury blow for the Crusaders, currently gunning for a seventh Super Rugby title in seven years.
Already this year, the reigning champions have lost All Blacks Ethan Blackadder, David Havili, Sevu Reece, Joe Moody, Cullen Grace, Fletcher Newell and George Bower to season-ending injuries.
Should Whitelock take the field on Saturday night, it would likely be his final game in a Crusaders jersey, before he joins French side Pau after this year's Rugby World Cup in France.
