Bekhuis (24) is in his third year of Super rugby and will be playing his 31st game for the Highlanders at Carisbrook.
"We are always up for the game," Bekhuis said.
"It is important for the team and helps us to bring out that little bit extra."
Bekhuis is encouraged by the support the Highlanders are getting this season.
"The big and vocal crowd encouraged us when we ran on to Carisbrook to play the Chiefs," he said.
"The support of the crowd motivates us during the game."
The Highlanders squad has bounced back quickly from the 18-6 loss to the Stormers in Cape Town last weekend.
"We know what we have to work on and control for the Crusaders game," he said.
"As long as we keep to the game plan, we will succeed."
As one of the senior members of the Highlanders squad, Bekhuis is used to the hard knocks from the past and is finding it easier this year.
"The competition is still as hard but my experience makes it easier to handle the pressure," he said.
Last year, the Highlanders won only three games during the entire Super competition.
This year, they have three wins from the first four games.
"There is a positive feeling in the team and the environment is better this year. We enjoy playing the game together," he said.
Bekhuis felt that the new management was making a difference and the "senior boys" in the team were helping.
"We get on very well together," he said.
"We are like a family and are playing for each other."
There is a large Southland contingent in the team and they are used to winning after their Ranfurly Shield tenure last year.
"We had a taste for winning," Bekhuis said.
"But there are also players from Wellington and other unions that have helped us develop a winning culture."
