Crusaders coach Scott Robertson will be surprised if the long-hapless Blues don't mount a compelling Super Rugby threat this season after their opening round Kiwi derby thriller in Auckland.
The two-time defending champion Crusaders prevailed 24-22 at Eden Park but were stretched to the limit by a Blues side playing with a structure that Robertson hasn't seen in recent seasons.
It took two penalty tries and a double for winger Manasa Mataele to steer Robertson's men home, admittedly without a clutch of their resting All Blacks.
The Blues are still without a win against fellow New Zealand franchises for 20 matches and are desperate to end a seven-season finals drought.
Robertson is convinced the Auckland-based outfit has made strides under new coach Leon MacDonald, a Crusaders product who took over from a demoted Tana Umaga three months ago.
"There was a lot more detail there, they were really clear with what they were doing," Robertson told journalists.
"I was impressed with them. They had the right people in the right places and you could see their clear game structure; probably more than in other years."
The Highlanders, who host the Queensland Reds next week, opened their campaign with a hard-fought 30-27 win over the Chiefs in Hamilton.
All Blacks Aaron Smith and Shannon Frizell both made an impact off the bench for the Highlanders while untried five-eighth Josh Ioane produced the sort of spark that suggests he can replace the departed Lima Sopoaga effectively.
The Chiefs are chasing an eighth successive finals appearance but may take time to adjust to the departure of stalwarts Charlie Ngatai and Liam Messam, along with the absence of Test flanker Sam Cane.
They face the Brumbies in Canberra next week.
Two other All Blacks to hit the ground running were flanker Ardie Savea and halfback TJ Perenara as the Hurricanes snuck home 20-19 over the NSW Waratahs in Sydney.
Jordie Barrett landed all four of his kicks at goal in the absence of his play-making brother Beauden Barrett.
Goalkicking proved the difference as Bernard Foley hashed what would have been a late, match-winning penalty for the Waratahs from 30m out.
