The 102-test veteran has been named to start in the Ballymore clash after getting half an hour off the bench in the Crusaders' loss to the Hurricanes last weekend.
It will provide any interesting test for Super Rugby rookie Hunt, who has been thrust into the Reds' playmaker role in the wake of injury to Wallabies star Quade Cooper and a disappointing outing by youngster Duncan Paia'aua in the loss to the Melbourne Rebels last weekend.
Another option for the Reds would have been Wallabies utility James O'Connor but he is suffering tonsillitis.
The Crusaders are without some their biggest names - Richie McCaw and Kieran Read included - but still have a good smattering of All Blacks, including fullback Colin Slade and prop Owen Franks, who get their first starts of the season.
Coach Todd Blackadder says the match will be a further opportunity to trial combinations.
"We're starting to get a good feel for which combinations are firing and where we need more work," he said.
"We were really pleased with what we saw in the last quarter of our last game, so we'll be looking to step it up from there this week."
Crusaders: Colin Slade, Robbie Fruean, Kieron Fonotia, Tom Taylor, Johnny McNicholl, Dan Carter, Mitchell Drummond, Luke Whitelock, Matt Todd (capt), Jimmy Tupou, Dominic Bird, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Alex Hodgman. Reserves: Ben Funnell, Ged Robinson, Joe Moody, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Scott Barrett, Tom Sanders, Billy Guyton, Nathaniel Apa, Nafi Tuitavaki, David Havili.
