The preseason clash is scheduled for January 30 at Fraser Park.
In a statement, Crusaders head coach Rob Penney said it was always special to take the game to one of the smaller towns in the Canterbury region.
"South Canterbury has got a proud rugby community, and this is a great opportunity for our fans there to get up close to the team. It’ll be a good hit-out for our men and will be a chance to test combinations and build momentum heading into the season."
The match will not only showcase top-tier rugby talent but also serve as a key initiative to support the Fraser Park Development.
"As a region, we are excited to be in the position to host this event, thanks to the continued support from Temuka Transport," said South Canterbury Rugby Football Union chief executive Tim Hyde-Smith.
"Fraser Park was renovated in 2023 and offers a wonderful experience to both the high-performance teams and the fans. It’s establishing itself not only as a multi-purpose sporting facility but also as a venue that can host business or private events."
"We are looking forward to celebrating the facility and welcoming the community in the gates," he said.
Temuka Transport general manager Nigel Walsh said they were looking forward to working closely with the Crusaders.
"We know how important it is to have these role models in our community for the growth and development of the game in our region."
Kickoff is at 3.30pm, and for fans who can not make it in person, the game will be livestreamed, across YouTube and Facebook with support from Venture Timaru and the Timaru District Council.
Venture Timaru chief executive Nigel Davenport said it was exciting to host the Crusaders and was positive the community would support the event.
"There will be plenty of red and black jerseys in the crowd, and we know we’ll also have some staunch Highlanders fans across the province. This will be a real celebration of our southern rivalry.
"We’re predicting around 400,000 [people] to view the livestream, so this will give Venture Timaru the perfect opportunity to promote our beautiful region, and the busy events calendar we have coming up in February and March following the game."
Tickets are expected to go on sale before Christmas.
— Allied Media
