Crusaders coach Robbie Deans has the luxury of putting his feet up for a few days before watching from a distance as his team's Super 14 rugby rivals slug it out.
The Crusaders go into their bye week atop the standings on 33 points after repulsing a physical challenge from the Hurricanes in the latest round of action.
Their 20-13 success in Wellington last Friday night maintained the Crusaders' seamless start to the 2008 campaign, representing their seventh win from as many outings.
It gave them an eight-point buffer over their nearest rivals, South Africa's Sharks, who were denied a bonus point but still outshone the Queensland Reds 22-10 in Durban yesterday.
The Crusaders head into their bye week at the halfway stage looking odds-on to qualify for the play-offs, but concerned about an ankle injury which will sideline star first five-eighth Daniel Carter for at least six weeks.
Carter is not expected back until just before the play-offs after badly spraining the ankle in a second-half tackle as the Crusaders saw off the Hurricanes.
There was good news in the fact that an X-ray cleared Carter of any structural damage, but his team will now need to do without him as the business end of the competition nears.
Deans has a readymade replacement in Stephen Brett, but he is still a couple of weeks away from a comeback after injuring his shoulder against the Cheetahs this month.
But Deans at least has some breathing space before seeking a short-term solution, because after their bye the Crusaders take on the struggling Lions at home before playing the Chiefs.
The Blues are third on 24pts after relying on a pragmatic approach to see off the Bulls 23-21 in Auckland on Saturday night.
They were in danger of dropping the match until first fiveeighth Nick Evans slotted a neat 30m dropped goal in the dying minutes.
The bonus point pocketed against the Crusaders earns the Hurricanes fourth spot on 19pts, alongside the Force, which angered coach John Mitchell in going down 16-32 to the Stormers in Perth.
The Chiefs and Stormers are next on 18pts, with the Chiefs beating the Highlanders 39-24 in Hamilton on Saturday night.
The other match of the round saw the Waratahs edge out the the Cheetahs in Sydney 23-19 on Friday night.
