The Crusaders have named a powerful backline for their first pre-season match of the season, against the Highlanders in Greymouth on Friday.
The Crusaders have most of their key players unavailable for the game but can still name a quality-looking side for the match, which will be played at Rugby Park on Friday, kicking off at 5.45pm.
All of the backs have played for the Crusaders before, including centre Robbie Fruean, winger Sean Maitland and promising first five-eighth Tyler Bleyendaal.
Up front, impressive openside flanker Matt Todd starts along with the youngest of the four Whitelock brothers in the squad, Luke Whitelock, who will fill the shoes of rested All Black Kieran Read.
The side will be captained by prop Wyatt Crockett, with All Black Ben Franks in the reserves.
Owen Franks is one of eight All Blacks not available for the game.
All Black winger Zac Guildford will not take part in the game, as he starts the first of his four-match ban, for alcohol-related incidents late last year.
The Crusaders will travel to the Coast tomorrow and will take part in a pre-season camp, which will include visiting schools and communities.
The Highlanders will name their team later this week and will travel to the Coast on Thursday night and return early on Saturday.
The Highlanders' next pre-season match is against the Chiefs in Queenstown on February 11 followed by a game against the Blues in Auckland on February 17.
The side plays its first game of the Super 15 competition against the Chiefs in Hamilton on February 25. The Crusaders will meet the Blues in Auckland for the opening game of the competition on February 24.
Crusaders team
To play Highlanders
Tom Marshall, Sean Maitland, Robbie Fruean, Ryan Crotty, Adam Whitelock, Tyler Bleyendaal, Willi Heinz, Luke Whitelock, Matt Todd, Joe Wheeler, Tom Donnelly, Ross Kennedy, Nick Barnett, Quentin MacDonald, Wyatt Crockett (captain).
Reserves: Joe Moody, Ben Franks, Sam Prattley, Ben Funnell, Codie Taylor, Luke Romano, Dominic Bird, Brendon O'Connor, George Whitelock, Mark Swanepoel, Mitchell Scott, Patrick Osborne, Andy Ellis.
