Concussed All Blacks Sam Whitelock and Ryan Crotty have been given the week off from Crusaders duty, as the Super Rugby champions take on the Hurricanes on Friday.
And their propping stocks have taken another blow, with international Tim Perry out for up to a month with an hamstring injury suffered at national team training on Tuesday.
Both Whitelock and Crotty left the field with head injuries against the Blues last week, and played a limited part in this week's All Blacks camp.
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has decided to take no chances with his two kingpins - Whitelock has been handed the All Blacks captaincy for next month's series against France, while Crotty is the backline organiser.
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"They didn't quite make it past those protocols," he said. "Like anything, their heads are the most important thing - there's always another game of rugby.
"The head is the priority and for them to get an extra week is going to be great - for us and the All Blacks."
In Whitelock's absence, Quinten Strange will partner All Black Scott Barrett in the second row, while Tim Bateman steps in for Crotty in the midfield.
Perry's injury further depletes a Crusaders front row already missing suspended props Joe Moody and Owen Franks.
"It's the second one he's done within a six-week period, so probably [he's out] 3-4 weeks, which is tough for him," said Robertson.
"He'll potentially miss a couple of test matches, he was on form and playing well."
Retired international Wyatt Crockett now moves into a starting role, alongside Michael Alaalatoa, with veteran Chris King and Donald Brighouse coming off the bench.
"This has really tested us, but I'm a solution-minded person and always try to find a way forward," said Robertson. "We've done that."
The Crusaders have not had the services of regular All Blacks skipper Kieran Read this season, as he works his way back from back surgery.
Crusaders: 1-Wyatt Crockett, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Michael Alaalatoa, 4-Scott Barrett, 5-Quinten Strange, 6-Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 7-Matt Todd, 8-Jordan Taufua, 9-Bryn Hall, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-George Bridge, 12-Tim Bateman, 13-Jack Goodhue, 14-Seta Tamanivalu, 15-David Havili
Reserves: 16-Andrew Makalio, 17-Chris King, 18-Donald Brighouse, 19-Luke Romano, 20-Pete Samu, 21-Mitchell Drummond, 22-Mitch Hunt, 23-Braydon Ennor
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Join us at 7:30pm Friday for the Crusaders vs Hurricanes Super Rugby showdown.
