All Blacks Tamaiti Williams and Codie Taylor will make welcome returns to the beleaguered Crusaders, as they desperately try to keep their Super Rugby Pacific title defence alive.
The pair have been named in the starting XV to face the Highlanders in a pivotal South Island showdown at Dunedin, after missing most of the horror 2-8 start to their campaign, including the home defeat to Queensland Reds last weekend.
Taylor hasn't been seen on the field since last year's Rugby World Cup final, as he took an extended break from rugby to recharge the batteries, while Williams' involvement lasted less than 10 minutes into their opening loss to the Chiefs, when he strained a hamstring.
"Fabulous," reacted coach Rob Penney, who can use all the help he can get. "They're great Crusaders and quality rugby players.
"They're quality people adding value when they're around us, and adding a bounce and a buoyancy, which is awesome for us at the moment."
Penney's front-row stocks aren't exactly thin, especially at prop, where he has had the luxury of interchanging current internationals George Bower and Fletcher Newell with former All Blacks Owen Franks and Joe Moody, both Super Rugby centurions.
With seven tests under his belt, Williams, 23 - the heaviest-ever All Black - very much represents the future of the position.
"It's unfair to put a great expectation on him," said Penney. "He's been away for a long period of time, initially with the hamstring, and then with his lovely bubs and family down in Otago.
"He's had a lot going on, so the expectation for him is to just get back and really enjoy himself. He's surrounded by love in this group, and that's part of his recovery process and heading back to normality."
At this stage of the season, Taylor probably represents the bigger addition to a team that have struggled at lineout time.
"He's a smart operator and an outstanding technician in that sphere of the game," said Penney. "We're fortunate that Brodie [McAlister] and Belly [George Bell] are outstanding in that area too.
"Belly is young, and is growing and learning to adapt to the pressures of the situation. We're really satisfied with the group we've got there, but having Codie back gives us a level of maturity that we haven't had until now."
Fears over captain Scott Barrett's availability seem to have been allayed, with his inclusion to face the Highlanders, after leaving the field with a back spasm early against the Reds. The All Blacks lock is not long back from a broken finger.
"Scooter unfortunately wrenched his back, that's pretty well known," reflected Penney. "That's settled well, he trained yesterday and everything is looking good for his participation on the weekend.
"He knowns when he's able to perform and when he's not, and he has trust in the bench. He felt he couldn't perform and that decision was made - it was taken out of our hands to a degree."
The Highlanders currently sit seventh on the competition ladder, with a playoff spot firmly in their sights, while the Crusaders can also reach the top eight with a bonus-point victory in the southern derby.
"It would be a great step forward for us," said Penney. "We haven't had the team song sung too often in the changing rooms this year - it's a great song and we'd love to be able to sing it again on Saturday night."
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