The Highlanders have stuck with the tried and true to take on the Crusaders in Christchurch tomorrow night.
Coach Jamie Joseph has named an unchanged side for the Derby clash, while the Crusaders have the luxury of naming Richie McCaw and Dan Carter on the bench.
The Highlanders beat the Stormers 39-21 before having Easter off with the bye. The squad has got back into its work this week and Joseph said yesterday that it had not been not a hard side to select.
''It was pretty easy to pick. Guys are getting rewarded for a good performance,'' he said.
''We performed really well against the Stormers, had a week off and we have all been freshened up.''
The Highlanders have been well served by a solid tight five, quality loose forwards and good finishing out the back but will face a Crusaders team fresh off a 50-point win over the Sharks.
Coach Todd Blackadder has kept the same backline which steamrolled the Sharks and Tasman winger David Havili gets another crack.
Carter is back from parental leave but he is named in the reserves. Colin Slade gets the start in the No 10 jersey.
McCaw will be sitting beside Carter, as Blackadder has Matt Todd and Jordan Taufua as his two flankers to complement No 8 Kieran Read.
The changes for the Crusaders come in the front row as Owen Franks and Joe Moody return.
It is Franks' 100th game for the Crusaders. He first played for the franchise in 2009. Lock Jimmy Tupou starts in place of Scott Barrett.
The Highlanders are one point ahead of the Crusaders on the competition ladder and the Christchurch-based team has played one more game.
Highlanders v Crusaders
Christchurch, tomorrow, 7.35pm
Highlanders: Ben Smith (co-captain), Waisake Naholo, Malikai Fekitoa, Shaun Treeby, Patrick Osborne, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Nasi Manu (co-captain), James Lentjes, Elliot Dixon, Joe Wheeler, Tom Franklin, Josh Hohneck, Ash Dixon, Brendon Edmonds.
Reserves: Liam Coltman, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Pingi Tala'apitaga, Mark Reddish, Dan Pryor, Fumiaki Tanaka, Marty Banks, Jason Emery.
Crusaders: Israel Dagg, David Havili, Kieran Fonotia, Ryan Crotty, Nemani Nadolo, Colin Slade, Andy Ellis, Kieran Read (captain), Matt Todd, Jordan Taufua, Sam Whitelock, Jimmy Tupou, Owen Franks, Ben Funnell, Joe Moody.
Reserves: Codie Taylor, Alex Hodgman, Nepo Laulala, Scott Barrett, Richie McCaw, Mitchell Drummond, Dan Carter, Nafi Tuitavake.