The Crusaders look likely to field their All Blacks front row for the first time this season, when they take on the Highlanders in their Super Rugby quarter-final in Christchurch on Friday.
Prop Owen Franks took full part in Monday's training and appears poised to reclaim the number-one jersey he last wore against the Brumbies on April 6, when he tore a muscle in his shoulder.
With Codie Taylor also available, after a month-long absence with a broken finger, the defending champions' front-row - rounded out by loosehead prop Joe Moody - should be back to its daunting best at OrangeTheory Stadium.
Despite Franks' lack of game-time, assistant coach Jason Ryan confirmed he'd have no hesitation inserting the All Blacks veteran back into the starting line-up against the formidable Highlanders front three.
"[Franks] has done a lot of work, credit to him, that's the man he is," Ryan said at Monday's practice.
"We know, against the Highlanders, we're going to have to change gears and ramp things up a lot more. We've talked a lot, as a forward pack, of changing gears - we have to."
In other injury news, only third-string halfback Ere Enari has been ruled out of selection this weekend.
The Crusaders boast a 21-0 record in playoff matches at the ground formerly known as AMI Stadium, a statistic Ryan and his players are paying no attention to leading into the southern showdown.
"I know the Crusaders and Highlanders games are always just absolute classics. We talked about that this morning, we've got a lot of respect for them.
"We all get on good off the field, but come kick-off, there will be no love lost."
Also being ignored is the 43-17 scoreline in the Crusaders' favour, when the sides last met in April.
"We've got to ramp it up," he said. "One thing with Super Rugby, all you do is put yourself in position to play in a final.
"We've done that. Now, you've just got to be the best team for three weeks."
Newshub.
Join us at 7:30pm Friday for live updates of the Crusaders v Highlanders Super Rugby playoff
